The Mercedes single-seaters showed in Bahrain, the first Grand Prix of the 2023 Formula 1 season, that they are still far from the results of their rivals RedBull. Speaking to the BBC, Lewis Hamilton said his advice had not been heeded and the poor results were showing.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)Photo: Hoch Zwei / Zuma Press / Profimedia

Hamilton says the team didn’t listen to him when creating the new Mercedes single-seater

Speaking on the BBC’s Checkered Flag podcast, Hamilton says he was not listened to by Mercedes engineers when they were developing the single-seater for the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Lewis claims he told the mechanics exactly what and where to change to make the single-seater Mercedes competitive with a real chance of winning Formula 1 Grands Prix.

“Last year there were things I said. I highlighted the problems with the car.

But this information was not used. I’ve driven so many cars in my life that I really know what I’m talking about. I know what the car needs and what it doesn’t.

It’s about recognizing and saying, Yeah, you know what? I didn’t listen to you. It is not where it should be, and it is necessary to work.

We have to look at the balance in the corners, look at all the weak points and come together as a team. So we have to get down to business,” said, among other things, Lewis Hamilton.

The 2022 season was a bad one for Mercedes, with the single-seaters led by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell lagging far behind their RedBull rivals (the Austrian team won the constructors’ trophy and Max Verstappen won his second consecutive drivers’ world title).

In Bahrain, Hamilton finished 5th and George Russell 7th. Max Verstappen was the winner and RedBull completed the double.

Formula 1, rating of pilots

1 Max Verstappen – RedBull 25 points

2 Sergio Perez – RedBull 18

3 Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin 15

4 Carlos Sainz – Ferrari 12

5 Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 10

6 Lance Stroll – Aston Martin 8

7 George Russell – Mercedes 6

8 Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo 4

9 Pierre Gasly – Alpine 2

10 Alexander Albon – Williams 1

Formula 1, rating of constructors

1 RedBull 43 points

2 Aston Martin 23

3 Mercedes 16

4 Ferrari 12s

5 Alfa Romeo 4

6 Alpine 2

7 Williams 1

8 Alpha Tauri 0

9 HAAS 0

10 McLaren 0