Lewis Hamilton’s bid to win six Spanish Grand Prix in a row was over within a single lap on Sunday afternoon.
Hamilton, who was robbed of his record-breaking eighth world championship at Abu Dhabi at the end of last season, has endured a truly rotten start to the new campaign as a consequence of Mercedes’ struggles.
The Spanish Grand Prix already represented a new low for the F1 legend after he was out-qualified by George Russell for the first time this season when both drivers had successfully made Q3.
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Things have now got even worse for Hamilton after a collision with Kevin Magnussen in the first lap of the race left Hamilton with a puncture, which required an immediate pit and a surrender of all his race hopes.
LAP 1/66
Contact between Magnussen and Hamilton 💥
The Dane runs off into the gravel at Turn 4. The Mercedes driver has damage and limps back to the pits for repairs #SpanishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/7mV0YAbGxF
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 22, 2022
Hamilton was subsequently on the radio suggesting that his team retire the car and save the engine. He sounded as downbeat and miserable as we’ve ever heard him on the radio.
He will be hoping for a change in fortunes soon, but in truth, it’s hard to imagine him working his way back into contention this season. He merely needs to endure and go again next year.
