Lewis Hamilton blamed new kerbs installed as part of a resurfacing of the Hungaroring circuit for his crash in Friday’s practice for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
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Nico Rosberg’s future was never really in doubt, but Mercedes have made it official and given the German driver and current championship leader a two year contract extension.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo clocked fifth fastest ahead of team-mate Max Verstappen, news.com.au reported.
Hamilton said: “My apologies to the crew for all the hard work they have ahead and getting it back together”.
“Obviously, it was not the greatest session for me, and my apologies to the crew for all the hard work they have ahead to strip the auto and get it back together”, Hamilton said.
Despite Hamilton only running on the soft tyre before his retirement from the session he still placed fifth, behind Max Verstappen but ahead of the second Ferrari auto of Kimi Raikkonen.
Vettel, who has struggled for consistency with Ferrari and suffered successive gearbox problems, said: “I’m not entirely happy with the balance, but I think we can improve overnight”.
The force of the impact, measured at 12G, triggered a safety alarm in Hamilton’s Mercedes cockpit and he was taken to the on-track medical centre as a precaution before swiftly being given the all-clear. “The kerbs are smoother. certainly the kerbs are making a difference on lap time”.
Hamilton, bidding to seize the championship lead for the first time this season with an unprecedented fifth win in Hungary, was fifth after crashing out with four laps on the board.
At the same time, teams did complain about the longest-ever season of 21 races, including a globe-hopping stretch of six races in eight weeks at the end. “I think the new [track surface] suits us, so I’m optimistic”.
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A 19-time race victor, should Rosberg see out his new deal with Mercedes as planned, he will have spent nine seasons with the championship winning team.
