Hamilton not to blame for hydraulic failure - Mercedes

Mercedes have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton did not cause damage to his car while running over kerbs in qualifying for the German Grand Prix, after a hydraulic failure ended his running in Q1 and leaves him facing the prospect of fighting through the field from 14th on the grid.

Hamilton ground to a halt in the closing stages of Q1 after taking a bumpy trip across kerbs, having attempts to trundle home and then push his car back to the garage called off by the pit wall and stewards respectively.

It had initially appeared that Hamilton had caused damage to his car when taking an excursion beyond track limits, a theory backed up by team principal Toto Wolff immediately after qualifying.

However, Hamilton was insistent in his reaction that the incident had kicked in before his rough ride and the team have now sided with his version of events after testing the car.

UPDATE: @LewisHamilton had a hydraulic failure at Turn 1 as he ran the normal kerb through that corner. Then, with failed power steering, as a result of the hydraulic failure, his car jumped over the run-off... 1/2 ???????? #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/1BlkgsLyvc — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 21, 2018

UPDATE: The car’s ‘jumping’ moments seen on TV were a consequence of the hydraulic failure, rather than the cause of it. 2/2 ???????? #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/KmGSOJ6Q23 — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 21, 2018