Mercedes: Hamilton error not to blame for hydraulic failure

Mercedes has clarified that the hefty clouting of the turn one exit curbs for Lewis Hamilton was not to blame for his early qualifying exit. The Briton was forced to pull his Mercedes car over before he could make it back to the pits after a hydraulic failure.

The failure means that Hamilton will have it all to do once again at Hockenheim, just as in 2014, he starts at near the back of the grid whilst his title rival, this time in Sebastian Vettel, will start on pole position.

After qualifying, Mercedes clarified just what had happened to Hamilton after a large amount of speculation that it was driver error that caused his issue.

“We had the failure at Turn 1 as Lewis ran the “normal” kerb which all the drivers use in that stage of qualifying.

“Then, with failed power steering as a result of the hydraulic failure, he had the “jumping” moments that were seen on TV and which people understandably thought might have been the cause of the issue – but were, in fact, a consequence of it.”

Hamilton also commented on what had happened on social media, clarifying that the heavy use of the curbs was a symptom of and not the cause of the issue.

“To avoid all assumptions, today was nobody’s fault,” he said.

“When I got to the exit kerb of Turn 1 the hydraulics in the steering failed. When this happened, the car pulled to the left and so I was forced to drive off the track and subsequently taking a bumpy ride before re-joining. Those big bumps did zero damage.

“These things happen and as always we win and we lose together as a team.

“Why didn’t I pull over when asked? Simple, it’s qualifying, the car was still going and I hoped with all my heart that I might make it back and they could fix it.

“In my heart I never give up so it is the hardest thing to give in and accept the car will not make it back. I turned the car off and thought perhaps I can even push it back as crazy as it sounds, that’s just me being passionate.”