Hamilton: Bahrain win a "chance to prove people wrong"
Lewis Hamilton reckons his 2021 Bahrain victory with the race’s second-best car was a “chance to prove people wrong” regarding suggestions his Formula 1 wins are primarily down to machinery.
Hamilton has won 74 races since the start of 2014 and his Mercedes team 103 of the 138 in that period, which has led to suggestions from some observers that such a level of success is solely down to the Black Arrows squad’s car advantages.
Such theories ignore the 22 wins Hamilton scored for McLaren before joining his current team, as well as events where Mercedes has not had the best car and Hamilton has beaten faster opposition – such as the 2018 Italian Grand Prix against Ferrari.
Last weekend’s Bahrain event demonstrated that Red Bull has started F1 2021 with the fastest car in both qualifying and race conditions, but Hamilton held on to defeat Max Verstappen after successfully executing Mercedes’ aggressive strategy choices and the Dutchman’s sole overtaking move going wrong.
When asked if his race-winning performance would prove his critics wrong, Hamilton said: “I think [last Sunday’s race] was definitely a blessing, perhaps in disguise.
“There’s always a chance, opportunities to prove people wrong, and I like to think that was definitely one of them.
“But I think there have been several in the past – there have been many in the past, obviously, I’ve been around a long time – but I hope there are many opportunities in the future to be able to show what I was able to do [in Bahrain] also.”
Red Bull’s current pace advantage has raised expectations that F1 could be set for a close, multi-team title fight, which has not happened since 2012.
Hamilton says he does not “recall how close the other seasons were exactly” but reckons “this has got to have started off as one of the toughest, if not the [toughest]”.
“I think Red Bull’s pace is incredibly strong, as you could see,” he added. “We can’t match them in qualifying right now. That’s a big step for us.
“Obviously I thought we could get closer within the race – but that was a little bit too close for my liking.
“The thing is, we just don’t know how much better they’ll be in other places that we go to – or how much worse, or how good [Mercedes will be].
“Maybe our car’s better in other places than it is here, or maybe it’s worse – we’ll wait and find out. One thing’s for sure, we’ll work as hard as we can to improve it.”
Related video
Previous article
Red Bull plans Imola push to improve RB16B
Next article
New Albert Park layout will be five seconds faster
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Bahrain GP |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Alex Kalinauckas |
How Do Drivers Stay Fit For F1 Grand Prix?
Ronnie Peterson and Jochen Rindt Tribute
#ThinkingForward with Juan Pablo Montoya
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says Nigel Roebuck.
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Is Formula 1 as good as it has ever been now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle.
How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his teammate's F1 career climb
Kimi Raikkonen's emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber teammate's own prospects. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here's how Nick Heidfeld's career was chilled by the Iceman.
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
How Verstappen's Bahrain mistake can only make him stronger
Max Verstappen lost out to Lewis Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix by a tiny margin, slipping off the track just as victory was within his grasp. But the painful lesson from defeat can only help Verstappen come back even stronger
