Mercedes Reveals Floor Damage Cost Lewis Hamilton ‘Two and a Half Tenths’ Per Lap in Austrian GP

Mercedes Addresses Hamilton’s Difficult Day in Austria

In a post-race analysis, Mercedes revealed that the floor damage on Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 car during the Austrian Grand Prix had a significant impact, costing him approximately “two and a half tenths” per lap. This damage likely contributed to Hamilton’s distant fourth-place finish at the Red Bull Ring, as teammate George Russell capitalized on the late clash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to secure Mercedes’ first win since November 2022.

Hamilton made a strong start, passing Carlos Sainz, but was instructed to hand the spot back due to concerns about a potential penalty for running wide at Turn 1. He was later hit with a five-second penalty after an oversteer moment saw him cross the pit entrance line. However, the 23-second gap between Hamilton and Russell at the finish line was largely attributed to the underside damage, which compromised Hamilton’s performance around the 70-second lap.

“Yeah, it was one of his bad days. A pretty decent start, and then Turn 1, Lap 1, giving the position back was a harsh thing,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. He added, “On top of that, we had floor damage because of the kerb ride, which I guess most people have, but his was extensive.”

Hamilton was unsure when he picked up the damage that compromised his race. “I’m not really quite sure,” he said. “I think I got, in Turn 1, a bit of damage, and then the floor is just falling apart. I don’t know when I got the damage from that.”

When asked about the time drop that dealt another setback to his hopes in the 71-lap race, Hamilton stated, “I haven’t yet seen the video, so I don’t have much more to say.” The seven-time Formula 1 champion cut a despondent figure as he acknowledged that the inroads that delivered Mercedes’ first win since November 2022 hadn’t changed much for him personally.

Despite this, Hamilton was quick to praise Russell’s performance, saying, “I mean, from my side, it’s not that different. But George, as you can see, he’s doing pretty well. So, that’s a huge boost for us.” He added, “A big victory for George and the team. This is an amazing result.”

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