2 Different problems for Mercedes as Hamilton is frustrated again
Although Mercedes has clearly made progress with its update package fitted at Barcelona, the W13 remains a challenging car to drive and the characteristics of Monaco did not flatter it. George Russell qualified sixth and finished fifth, while Lewis Hamilton was restricted to eighth in qualifying by an inconveniently timed red flag, then got bottled up behind the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso during the race, finishing a frustrated eighth.
W13’s stiff suspension seemed to be the main problem contributing to bouncing over Monaco’s bumps. “Your eyeballs are coming out of your sockets,” said Hamilton. “It’s different bouncing to what we’ve experienced in the past. It’s in the low speed also, so it’s not [induced by] aero. I think it’s just the bumps on the track are making it worse.”
Both drivers were happier on Saturday but, after Hamilton set a lap good enough for sixth on his first Q3 run, Russell and Alonso improved on their second runs and Hamilton had to abort his when Pérez shunted at Portier.
In the race Russell stayed within range of Norris’s fifth-placed Mclaren through the first stint until their paths diverged when Norris stopped for intermediates at the end of lap 17. Russell eked four more laps out of his wets before pitting for hard-compound slicks. Mclaren responded by pitting Norris again for slicks, but Russell nipped past on the run up the hill after the pit exit before Norris got his new rubber up to temperature.
Hamilton had a more eventful Sunday afternoon, having to take inters at the end of lap 15 when he declared his rear wets spent. Though he only lost one position and quickly made up ground to eighthplaced Ocon, the Alpine driver was in no mood to yield. Hamilton dived inside at Ste Devote but Ocon turned in regardless, incurring a five-second penalty which ultimately dropped Ocon out of the points.
Following the red-flag Hamilton got stuck behind a similarly uncooperative Fernando Alonso, who was circulating around four seconds a lap slower than the leaders. Alonso later explained he was managing his tyres, having taken the restart on mediums since he had no new hards left, and that Hamilton’s frustrations were “not my problem”.
The ensuing gap between sixth and seventh places enabled Norris to pit again, set fastest lap, and finish tucked under Russell’s rear wing.