Mercedes secret tyre test: Lewis Hamilton more worried about his poor Monaco performance than his team's potential punishment
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Your support makes all the difference.Lewis Hamilton has admitted to being far more concerned about his own woes than whatever punishment Mercedes potentially face over their secret tyre test.
Although naturally expressing delight for close friend and team-mate Nico Rosberg's victory in yesterday's Monaco Grand Prix, that merely masked the disappointment with regard to his own performance.
For a man reputed to be the fastest in Formula One, Hamilton has now watched Rosberg claim pole position at the last three races, notably stepping into the spotlight around the streets of the principality.
Hamilton may be the new boy at Mercedes, but to play second fiddle to Rosberg is not what he anticipated when he arrived, appreciating he has to raise his game.
"I just wasn't good enough over the weekend," was Hamilton's stark assessment of his fourth-place finish, with Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber also ahead of him.
"I've lots to sort out on my side of the garage, and within myself, and I'll take time to do that.
"At the moment I'm not quick enough, not on it enough, so I need to get on it."
Suggested to Hamilton that Rosberg had been a surprise, he replied: "I don't think so.
"I expected him to be competitive, it's just that I expected myself to be more competitive."
Lurking in the background now is the threat of heavy sanctions from the World Motor Sport Council should the FIA decide their case merits closer scrutiny.
Mercedes, at the request of Pirelli, conducted a three-day test in Barcelona earlier this month using their current car and with both Hamilton and Rosberg at the wheel.
F1's sporting regulations prohibit in-season testing, and although Mercedes claim it was Pirelli's test given their tyre concerns this year and they were doing them a favour, Red Bull and Ferrari opted to protest before yesterday's race.
The GP stewards are to now write a report to the FIA who, in turn, will decide whether it should go before an international tribunal.
Should that be the case, Mercedes face the possibility of a fine, points deduction, race ban, or even being excluded from the championship.
Addressing the issue, Hamilton said: "We were required to do some work, we did some work, it was good fun.
"Right now I'm not concerned about it, that's for the team to worry about.
"I just have to focus on myself and try and get my act together.
PA
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