World Champion Lewis Hamilton says temperature limitations contributed to Mercedes’ defeat at the Austrian Grand Prix, as its winning run came to a close.
Mercedes had won all eight races in 2019, as well as the final two of last year, but struggled for pace throughout the weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
Team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third while Hamilton classified fifth, losing time in the pits when he opted to change his front wing in the wake of sustaining damage after running wide over a kerb.
“There’s not much to say really, I was just pushing as hard as I could but just limited by temperatures,” said Hamilton.
“I don’t know really know what to say really. I damaged the car, which was a little bit frustrating because I had to change the wing, lost a bunch of time and fell back to fifth.
“We were already struggling with temperatures so I had to just cruise back there basically.”
Hamilton had inherited the lead by extending his first stint but dismissed suggestions that he would have been able to challenge for victory without the front wing change.
“We were lifting and coasting like 400+ per lap,” he said. “So we were a long way down and even if I didn’t have to do that we would have the pace I think but unfortunately that’s just the way it was.
“Nobody was getting close to anybody.”
Hamilton still leads Bottas by 31 points in the championship.
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