Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed how Mercedes closed the gap to Red Bull this season.
The Mercedes-Red bull rivalry for the title has never been this exciting and close, whether it is between drivers or constructors. As it stands before the Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes and Hamilton took the lead in both championships. This was a victory for the team, because Red Bull was in the lead until then.
The British Knight has revealed how Mercedes closed the gap to Red Bull as the season hit the halfway mark. He talked about the mistakes they have made, and how happy he is that they came back stronger.
As quoted and translated from Motorsport.total.com, Hamilton said, “From Monaco, it became very intense and the update worked well.
“We worked on our processes on the weekends and tried to get more out of the car. I think we’re much closer now. The team never gives up, we keep pushing.
“We learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately, because we would wish they didn’t happen in the first place, but it’s not about how you fall, it’s about how you get up again,” Hamilton concluded.
Momentum shift
Hamilton and Mercedes leapfrogged Verstappen and Red Bull to the top in Hungary, when the results swung the momentum in their favour. At Budapest, with both teams losing one driver in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, it was down to Hamilton and Verstappen.
A damaged car saw Verstappen drop down the standings, but he managed to secure a points finish. However, it was not enough, as Hamilton bounced back from a terrible start to finish on the podium. The points difference meant the Silver Arrows and the seven-time world champion are the leaders right now.
Verstappen and Red Bull will be looking towards the second half of the season to try and beat their rivals. The first stop is Belgium, and he will be looking to make a statement there.