James Vowles assured Lewis Hamilton's presence in the Canadian GP and admitted that Mercedes made a mistake in the setup for the Azerbaijan GP, which caused pain in the back of the seven-time champion
Mercedes has guaranteed Lewis Hamilton's participation in the Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place June 17-19, after the seven-time world champion suffered severe back pain during the Formula 1 round in Azerbaijan.
In the traditional 'Race Debrief' posted on the team's official YouTube channel, chief strategist James Vowles revealed that Hamilton visited the Mercedes factory in Brackley, England, and confirmed his participation in the race in Montreal next weekend.
"I am pleased to announce that Lewis was here this morning. I spent a couple of hours with him, and he's fine. He will be back in the car in Montreal. He is an elite athlete who will push himself and the car to their limits, that's what drivers do, that's what makes them exceptional," Vowles commented.
The pain in Hamilton's back was caused by the W13's rebound effect, a defect that haunts Mercedes for the entire season, but was more pronounced in Baku, a race in which the seven-time champion finished fourth. Vowles admitted a mistake in the more aggressive setup.
"On this occasion I think we've taken the setup and the drivers too far. We're putting them in significant discomfort and we can't do that again," he added.
Vowles also assured that the discomforts and pain generated by porpoising are not exclusive to Mercedes drivers. "Our drivers are not the only ones suffering. You will see in the media the number of comments from various drivers who are also in discomfort and pain. And we have a responsibility now to make sure that doesn't follow," he added.