Lewis Hamilton has clarified a comment he made after the Belgian Grand Prix in which he suggested Ferrari had several “tricks” on their car.
At Spa-Francorchamps, the performance that had been threatened in recent races finally took place as Sebastian Vettel eased past the Briton on the opening lap along the Kemmel Straight before taking victory by 11 seconds.
While most put that result down to an upgraded engine which is now superior to Mercedes, Hamilton alluded to other possible features on the car although insisted he was not meaning anything illegal.
“We all have trick things on our car. Trick is just a word for something special. I don’t know what’s on their car so I couldn’t tell you either way,” he said.
“I’m not saying they are doing anything illegal. It’s just something that brings that extra bit of performance.
“That’s all I mean. I don’t mean anything to it so please don’t read into it and please don’t twist my words and say that I say they’re doing anything illegal because they’re not.”
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Naturally, the topic was put to FIA race director Charlie Whiting who laughed off the whole thing.
“I’m quite amused by it really,” he said. “Because we know quite a lot about the Ferrari car, and there is no way that Lewis would know anything about the Ferrari car.
“They’re doing a good job at the moment, and Mercedes have got to try and counter that, haven’t they?
“That particular comment doesn’t actually say anything,” he added.
“If he says they’ve got a few tricks going on on that car, clearly they have got some things on the car which are giving it performance, which we’re all aware of – all us in the FIA are aware of – and obviously we are happy with.”
