The Mercedes Formula 1 team have faced a worrying start to proceedings at the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin with both drivers struggling to keep their cars under control. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell experienced difficulties at Turn 4 at COTA, highlighting a potential issue for the Silver Arrows who will be hoping for success at the track once again this weekend.
Seven-time champion Hamilton managed to keep himself out of the barriers after his W15 went into a high-speed spin, displaying instant concern over team radio. “When I come in you have to check those damn tyres. And check the floor,” Hamilton said. Russell, who also complained about issues at Turn 4 moments earlier, found himself facing the wrong way at Turn 1, causing a brief yellow flag to be waved owing to the spin.
Hamilton and Russell will probably be trying to accumulate as many points between them as possible during the next six races of the 2024 season, as the British team is presently in fourth place in the constructors’ standings, 112 points behind Ferrari. With five prior appearances on the top step of the podium at COTA, star driver Hamilton now holds the record for the most victories in Austin.
However, the team’s equipment seemed challenging to use this past weekend, as both drivers were obviously having trouble and had already racked up three mishaps between them. Teammate Russell pointed out Hamilton’s mistake at Turn 4 to his own race engineer Marcus Dudley, calling it “weird” since he had also encountered a similar wobble at the same spot on the circuit. Russell experienced his own spin shortly after turning the first corner, rolling backward down the hill before he resumed his run.
