F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Puts Pressure on Max Verstappen - "Can't Make Mistakes"

Hamilton talks about how's it like to be in Verstappen's position on the top. You've still got a job to deliver and can't make mistakes

Hinting at Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton recalls what it was like to be at the top and the pressure the job comes with. 

One can clearly see Max Verstappen frequenting the Formula 1 podium for eighteen months, courtesy of Red Bull's amazingly quick F1 car. Hamilton has been there and done that too when Mercedes had the right setup for its car. 

Hence, it is easy for him to relate to Verstappen's present condition and state of mind. Comparing the two different worlds they're currently in, Hamilton says:

“Once you get on top of the car and the car works in this window, and it’s consistent, it’s much easier to get it into that setup.

When you are with a car like I have, for example, you’re trying everything, every different setup and combination to try and eke out a little bit more performance.

The past two seasons saw Hamilton and the Mercedes team struggle with the W14 F1 car. 

Hamilton goes on to describe what it is like when you have the best car and when everything on it works with perfect harmony.

“But when you have performance in hand, you are not necessarily always having to make risky choices throughout practice in order to get that extra half a tenth.

You don’t have to push the bodywork as tight as possible, put the engine on the rim of the temperature because you have a little bit of breathing space.

Then you don’t have to push the tyres as hard, so you can lift and coast a little bit more, which ultimately means longer stints. All these different things compound and the more you practice it, the easier it gets.

But you still have a job to deliver, you still have to be focused and still can’t make mistakes, still have to make the right decisions and that comes with a lot of pressure.

For me, it was easy just to stay focused on the job in hand and focus on the things I can control and making sure the team is consistently pushing forward.

I never got tired of it or comfortable. It’s a great feeling when you know you have got a car you can compete with.”

Coming to the current scenario with Hamilton and his team, he states that he's been enjoying the challenges and that they haven't been fighting for a win. 

“From our perspective, we know we are not fighting for a win, so it’s arriving hopeful that you can find a little bit of magic in the weekend.

Every small decision, every position that you get in qualifying makes that difference and I would say I’ve been enjoying this more, for the short term.”

Mercedes and Hamilton have been trying to work with several permutations and combinations on the car in order to find that sweet spot where everything just works the way it is supposed to. 

Just recently, we saw Mercedes add wider sidepods to their F1 car in Monaco. While that wasn't advised by Hamilton, he did suggest that finding the right setup and implementing it is a long process.