Lewis Hamilton calls for instant Mercedes improvements

Hamilton in Australia — Photo: © LAT Images

Mercedes

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Hamilton calls for instant Mercedes improvements

Mercedes has struggled to match Red Bull and Ferrari so far this season

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Friday 15 April 2022 08:00

Lewis Hamilton has called on Mercedes to make improvements "now, not in two or three races" after a difficult start to the F1 season.

Mercedes has been unable to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari for pace across the opening three weekends of the year.

The team does, however, sit second only to Ferrari in the constructors' standings due to its so far perfect finishing record with reliability issues dropping Red Bull 10 points behind the Silver Arrows after only taking the flag on three of six opportunities across its cars.

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But Hamilton, who travelled to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night after the race to speak with fuel supplier Petronas, explained: "I'll be just making sure we leave no stone unturned, making sure the hunger is really there and we're maximising absolutely every moment.

"So I'll have a lot of Zooms, chasing the people who are in the wind tunnel, the aero guys, just looking at absolutely every single area.

"There's performance to be gained in areas that we know and we need it now, not in two or three races, as we all know as a team.

"I've just got to keep that encouragement, keep that energy high.

"I'll also be on the simulator prepping for the next race."

Hamilton to "rally" Mercedes

Hamilton sits fifth in the drivers' standings on 21 points after leaving Melbourne, 43 points off championship leader Charles Leclerc and nine behind his Mercedes team-mate George Russell who sits second.

"There's a lot of work, there'll be a lot of calls. Naturally, I have a lot of travelling," added Hamilton.

"I'll be on a lot of Zoom calls with a lot of sponsors, our bosses, really trying to rally them up.

"We've some improvements we need to make and we need everyone's support in doing so."