F1 digest: Lewis Hamilton set for Mercedes ‘crisis talks’

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his plans to get together with his Mercedes bosses to talk about how the team can improve its in-race communication before this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

The Times reports that the British driver is concerned that strategy and communication are costing him “valuable points” in his hunt for a fifth world title.

Following the opening two races of the season, Hamilton is yet to take maximum points after finishing second in Australia and third in Bahrain. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has won successive races to build up a 17-point lead over Hamilton at the top of the drivers’ standings.

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Hamilton will now meet Mercedes strategists and engineers to discuss the radio technical issues from Bahrain, plus the information he’s given over the radio while on the track.

He said: “We are definitely going to sit down and communicate a bit better. We have to work out some strategy because I don’t want them to keep talking to me sometimes when I don’t need them to talk to me.

“So it’s working out a rapport that works best. It’s even more important that it’s precise information, because we’re at a point where it means a position and points for the championship.”

Inexperience means Verstappen is losing points

Lewis Hamilton believes that Max Verstappen’s lack of experience is costing the Red Bull driver points.

The rivals went wheel-to-wheel in Bahrain on Sunday. This caused a puncture to 20-year-old Verstappen’s car and ended his race.

Hamilton, 33, told Sky Sports: “He’s a young driver and is going to be learning all the time. He’s got fantastic pace but, as youngsters, we do not always make the right decisions.

“I don’t know if they are inexperienced, or not potentially mature, decisions, [but] they’re not getting the results they would have. He should have finished a decent race really because he’s good enough to do that.”

Sirotkin: we looked like idiots

Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin has hit out at his team following a poor weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sirotkin and Williams team-mate Lance Stroll finished 15th and 14th respectively in Bahrain after qualifying in 18th and 20th.

Russian driver Sirotkin told Autosport he was trying to look at the positives despite a bad result on Sunday. He said: “A tough feeling after a tough weekend. I know we looked like idiots from the outside. Probably the fact that I tried to find some positive in it will sound a bit weird, but I do see some positives.

“We definitely looked bad in the results in the race, probably even worse than in qualifying. It is better not even to think about it. But the good point is that at least we kind of see more.

“Even if it goes worse we start to understand why is this and why is that.”

2018 F1 Chinese Grand Prix guide

• When: Sunday, 15 April
• Where: Shanghai International Circuit
• Number of laps: 56
• Lap record: 1:32.238 by Michael Schumacher in 2004
• 2017 result: 1st Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2nd Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari); 3rd Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on TV

The third Grand Prix of the 2018 F1 season will take place in China this weekend. Sky Sports F1 will show live coverage from Shanghai.

• Thursday, 12 April: drivers’ press conferences (8am UK time)
• Friday, 13 April: practice one (3am); practice two (7am)
• Saturday, 14 April: practice three (4am); Chinese GP qualifying (7am)
• Sunday, 15 April: Chinese Grand Prix (7.10am)