Hamilton issues verdict on latest Mercedes upgrades

Lewis Hamilton has downplayed the impact of Mercedes’ latest upgrades following their debut at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. After introducing new parts in Miami two weeks ago, the Brackley-based squad followed up with more updates at Imola this weekend. Mercedes is continuing its efforts to recover back to the front of the field having been competing down the pecking order in recent seasons. However, Hamilton has conceded that its latest upgrades have done little to improve the team’s form. “Not a big difference,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 . “They are small steps but very, very small.” Despite feeling the car has not taken much of a step forward, Hamilton added he was pleased with his race pace around the Imola Circuit. “My pace in the second stint stint was comparable to the guys towards the front,” he said. “But we're still I think we're still lacking two or three-tenths.” Turn 12 mistake Towards the end of the race, Hamilton gained a place through a pit stop for team-mate George Russell, promoting him to sixth place. Despite the top six result, the seven-time world champion didn’t endure a trouble-free race as he endured an off-track moment at Turn 12, resulting in a trip through the gravel. “I think [I lost] about probably about five seconds with that off,” Hamilton stated. “Then that meant that I came out behind Fernando and I lost another bunch of seconds there so I think probably all in all probably eight seconds. “So not ideal, but it didn't lose any positions.”