Lewis Hamilton told why he ‘disappears’ during race weekends after Azerbaijan Grand Prix struggles

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Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton is unlikely to have gone into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend expecting to finish the race sandwiched between the two least experienced drivers on the grid.

After winning the final race before the summer break, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have taken a step backwards.

Hamilton has finished 8^th, 5^th and 9^th in the last three races, with George Russell’s unexpected 3^rd-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the only time either driver has finished on the podium since Spa.

Russell wasn’t happy with the way his Pirelli tyres were working in Baku but admitted it’s an issue every driver on the grid appears to be facing.

Hamilton appeared to ignore a message from Toto Wolff after the race such was his disappointment with the result and how the weekend played out.

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He could only qualify 7^th before he was forced to start from the pit lane given an engine change and other parc ferme alterations.

Mark Hughes was speaking on The Race Podcast and believed he spotted a worrying trend for Hamilton.

Mercedes have had issues with their cars all season and even when things have been going well, they’ve not always necessarily understood why.

Hughes believes that the longer a race weekend goes on, the harder Hamilton’s car becomes to drive.

It’s one of the reasons why Lando Norris thinks McLaren are so far ahead of Mercedes right now.

Lewis Hamilton ‘disappears’ as F1 tracks build up grid levels

Analysing the seven-time world champion’s performance in Baku, Hughes said: “I think the pattern that we’re also seeing is that early in the weekend, when the track grip is low, Lewis just adapts to it instantly and is very quick.

“As soon as the track grip builds up for the next day and the car gains grip, but changes its balance, then Lewis just disappears and he can’t get the tyre temperatures.

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“He said the tyres were just beginning to come in at the end of his qualifying lap.

“Obviously, that’s no good to anyone. So, I think the car is prone to that, but it’s something that Russell seems to deal with better than Hamilton.”

Lewis Hamilton sends positive message to Formula 1 rookies after Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Hamilton would have hoped starting from the pit lane would have at least come with the benefit of avoiding any of the incidents that normally take place at the start of a race in Baku.

Instead, everyone – except Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll – got through the first lap cleanly, meaning he had to advance through the grid car by car.

Hamilton ended up finishing between Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman and while that might have been frustrating for the 39-year-old, he at least saw the positives.

Colapinto and Bearman received a message from Hamilton after the race where he complimented their efforts across the weekend.

The young Brit will be racing for Haas next season while Colapinto battles for the final spot on the grid with Sauber.

Hamilton will be hoping that with the greatest respect, he’s not fighting with either of those teams when he begins life at Ferrari in 2025.