F1 news – latest: Lewis Hamilton agreement talks postponed with Mercedes set to modify car already after Toto Wolff and George Russell remarks

“It’s been an incredible weekend. The drivers were just fantastic, the deg was less than the others. Checo losing out at the start, he had some work to do, he got the pass.

“It’s only a sample of one, it’s a great start for us. We’ve done it in the best possible way. It was a good first race for us.

“When you’ve got pace in the car and deg under control, you’ve got options. Ferrari were unlucky with Charles, we need to see Jeddah. Let’s reserve judgement until a few races.

“Max was probably less happy with the car from the test than Checo. It’s great to have both guys fighting for fine margins. Important to get some good points in early.”

Nico Rosberg firmly insists Mercedes’ car principle is “in a river” as the group reveal they are set to alter course simply one race into the brand-new Formula 1 season.

Mercedes chose to stick to their distinct ‘no-sidepod’ style this year regardless of a distressed 2022 in which they just won a single race and completed third in the Constructors’ Championship.

However, after a challenging screening duration, the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix saw Mercedes lose around a second-a-lap compared to the triumphant Red Bulls out in front, while a renewed Aston Martin likewise had more rate than Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

As such, group manager Toto Wolff says the group will need to alter their viewpoint if they wish to be competitive and Rosberg – who won his World Championship in 2016 with Mercedes prior to retiring – has issues about how rapidly Mercedes can reverse their fortunes in a period of cost-cap.

The 2023 spending plan cap is set at £111m.

Here, we have a look at how Aston Martin have made such an enhancement in the off-season – and what they could attain this year:

Comment by Kieran Jackson

Never mind waiting on the very first race of the Formula 1 season. A weekend of screening, 3 session and certifying in Bahrain has actually informed Toto Wolff whatever he required to understand.

No sandbagging. No magic repair. No hiding. Mere hours into the 2023 campaign the Mercedes manager – as soon as the imperturbable executive titan of the sport – cut a despondent figure speaking with journalism in the late hours on Saturday. Acknowledging that his group’s determination, verging on stubbornness, had actually been an error, he revealed a modification of tack is already in the pipeline.

Speaking after George Russell and Lewis Hamilton certified 6th and seventh respectively, the Austrian specified: “I don’t think that this package is going to be competitive eventually.

“We gave it our best go over the winter and now we all just need to regroup, sit down with the engineers, be totally non-dogmatic and ask what is the development direction we want to pursue in order to be able to win races.”

As sporting U-turns go, this is quite seismic. Race weekend No 1 of 23: rip it up and start over.

Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One future is set to be postponed as Mercedes effort to solve their unpleasant start to the brand-new season.

Hamilton completed fifth at the opening round in Bahrain on Sunday – 51 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen – with team-mate George Russell seventh. The seven-time world champ’s agreement ends at the end of the season, and speculation is swarming that he might stall on a brand-new offer if Mercedes stop working to reverse their downturn.

Asked if the Silver Arrows will put a Plan B in location if Hamilton does not devote to an extension, group principal Toto Wolff said: “There is no point talking about the driver situation for 2024.

“That is far too early. We have to all push in the same direction, the drivers, engineers and management, rather the throwing in the towel. We have never done that and we will not do that now.”

Speaking in the build-as much as the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton, 38, said just a disaster would avoid him from extending his stay with Mercedes. But his remarks came prior to he struck the track and the degree of his group’s problems were exposed.