Hamilton wants more personnel control over race strategy

After a small calculation error by his team led to his defeat in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton says he would like more input into his race strategy.

The Mercedes driver appears in control and well on his way to a 63rd F1 victory when a fortunate Virtual Safety Car coupled with a longer stint strategy by Ferrari offered Sebastian Vettel a winning advantage over his arch-rival.

A bewildered Toto Wolff blamed the unexpected loss on a calculation error by Mercedes’ computers which wrongly estimated the delta between Hamilton’s speed under the VSC and the time Vettel would take to pit and rejoin the track.

Reflecting on the mishap after the race, Hamilton clearly wished man had prevailed over the machines – the computers – in Melbourne.

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“It’s such a team effort but when you’re relying on so much computers, so much data, so much technology to come up with the strategy I wish it was down more to personnel,” Hamilton said.

“I don’t know if that is the right saying but I wish it was more in my hands

“I feel I was driving as good as ever today. Really, really happy with how I was driving. Anyway, I will take that onto the next race, apply it exactly the same as I have this weekend and try to grow, try to grow within myself.”

Hamilton set out to correct the mistake by pushing and inching closer to Vettel, but rising engine temperatures ultimately forced the Mercedes driver to back off.

Interestingly, he admitted that this year’s new three-engine limit rule incited him to play it safe rather than carry on and risk a costly power unit issue.

“The engine was overheating, and I’ve got to do seven races with this engine, preferably more if I can,” he explained.

“I was on the limiter, and I was too hot, but I was pushing. So, I was nervous of damaging the engine at the same time.

“I just thought I couldn’t get him in those other laps, my tyres are going to be worse than now, I’m driving right now at 110 percent, I’m risking everything just for that seven points.

“I should probably sit back, save my engine, and use the life of it for the next ones. That goes against my spirit of racing, because I want to race right down to the last line.”