Lewis Hamilton was lapped by archrival Max Verstappen on one of the most humiliating weekends of his F1 career

© Lars Baron – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton is lapped by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Lars Baron – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

• Lewis Hamilton was lapped by Max Verstappen at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Sunday.
• While being lapped is common for lower-level teams, it’s highly embarrassing for drivers of Hamilton’s standing.
• Hamilton finished 13th in Italy, and is already out of contention for an eighth world drivers title.

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered one of the most difficult and embarrassing race weekends of his nearly 15-year-long career at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy.

the latest tech news, global tech news daily, tech news today, startups, usa tech, asia tech, china tech, eu tech, global tech, in-depth electronics reviews, 24h tech news, 24h tech news, top mobile apps, tech news daily, gaming hardware, big tech news, useful technology tips, expert interviews, reporting on the business of technology, venture capital funding, programing language

After eight years of dominance from the team, the Mercedes F1 car has struggled for pace in the 2022 season so far, being cast adrift from its biggest rivals Ferrari and Red Bull, and finding it difficult to even compete in the midfield.

Mercedes’ — and in particular Hamilton’s — early-season woes were compounded on Sunday when Hamilton was lapped by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who beat the Brit to the world title last year in thrilling but highly contentious circumstances.

Global Tech News Daily

Download our mobile app

On lap 41 of the race at the legendary Imola circuit, Verstappen, who was leading, caught up with Hamilton, who was running 14th out of 18 cars at the time, one place behind where he started.

Global Tech News Daily

Marshals waved blue flags, compelling Hamilton to move out of a charging Verstappen’s way, as is the protocol for cars being lapped in F1.

“The time has come for Lewis Hamilton to make way for Max Verstappen, and, ouch, that is gonna hurt,” Sky Sports commentator David Croft said on the official broadcast as the Dutchman passed.

You can see footage of Hamilton being lapped below:

—Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 24, 2022

With a lap of the Imola track taking roughly 80 seconds, and Verstappen catching up after just 41 laps, Hamilton was effectively two seconds per lap slower than the Red Bull driver.

That was a far cry from the 2021 season in which the pair battled it out at virtually every race weekend, often split by tiny time margins.

After the race Hamilton and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff were realistic in their assessment of Mercedes’ season.

“I am out of the championship, for sure. There’s no question about that,” Hamilton told reporters, admitting that he won’t be in contention for the first time since 2013, his first season at Mercedes.

Unless Mercedes’ performance drastically increases, Hamilton could even face failing to win a race in the season, which has never happened in his F1 career.

Hamilton outperformed by his teammate

© Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton puts his hand to his face on the grid at the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

“Lewis was just stuck in the back,” Wolff said after the race, per the BBC.

“We have two of the three best drivers and they deserve a car and a power unit that allows them to fight in the front rather than being lapped. That’s not what either of them deserves.”

During a radio message to Hamilton, Wolff apologized to Hamilton, saying: “Sorry for what you had to drive today. I know it was undriveable.”

“This was a terrible race.”

The Imola race was ultimately won by Verstappen, while Hamilton finished 13th, sandwiched between the French pair of AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

Compounding Hamilton’s woes, his teammate George Russell had a strong weekend, climbing from 11th on the grid to finish in fourth place behind Verstappen, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

That finish moved Russell into fourth in the driver’s championships on 49 points, 21 ahead of Hamilton.

Read the original article on Insider