Kimi Raikkonen does not think Lewis Hamilton can change performance of Mercedes car – Formula 1 news
Kimi Raikkonen, who drives for Lotus F1, has stated that he does not think Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes AMG in 2013 F1 season will change the performance of their car.
“If it was true, you wouldn’t need engineers anymore,” Raikkonen said. “That’s just rubbish. Of course we as drivers say our opinion and the engineers listen. We try what they come up with and see whether it works or how good it is or not. But it’s not right
that they ask the drivers how to build the car.”
In September this year, Hamilton announced departure from McLaren in order to join Mercedes AMG for the 2013 season. Hamilton had begun his F1 career with the Woking-based team and has also won one championship with them in 2008.
Hamilton’s performance this year was immensely obstructed by McLaren’s reliability problems which put him out of the championship fight despite having displayed good pace on many occasions in the season.
However, Hamilton said he is changing teams because he needs a new challenge and Mercedes will provide perfectly for that since they have been struggling with their performance.
Mercedes had returned to F1 in 2010 with Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg but their performance has remained insignificant ever since. Schumacher had returned from retirement to join the team which was now being led by Ross Brawn who had been the technical
director for Ferrari in the days the German driver was driving for them. He had also returned in hopes of his eighth title but failed since the condition of the Mercedes car was quite dismal. The team’s most significant achievement was their first Grand Prix
victory in three years by Rosberg during the Chinese GP.
Hamilton himself admitted that he does not know if he will get a car that can bring him wins in the near future. His last victory was at the 2012 United Stated GP.
Brawn has stated that the team aims to provide a better car to both Hamilton and Rosberg. He said that the team is positive about 2013 and their optimism is justified.
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