Mercedes made one other dismal begin to the season in Bahrain as Hamilton fell greater than 50 seconds behind Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen en path to ending fifth, two locations forward of team-mate George Russell.
The seven-time world champion complained earlier than the race that Mercedes have been “removed from combating” up entrance, whereas casting doubts on the crew’s idea automotive for 2023.
Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff has conceded in Bahrain that the once-dominant Silver Arrows must abandon their distinctive ‘zero pontoon’ idea so as to discover their method again to victory.
After the F1 2023 curtain-raiser, Hamilton claimed Mercedes had ignored him on the event of their W14 challenger after he raised “points” over the crew’s struggling predecessor.
Requested if he was stunned Hamilton had publicly known as out the crew, Brundle instructed the Sky Sports activities F1 podcast: “Somewhat. However very clearly, Lewis feels he isn’t getting sufficient traction simply by speaking to them.
“He clearly feels they are not paying consideration and he needed to go public. It is very uncommon as a result of he is nonetheless the last word crew participant.
“A driver like Lewis will not wish to go anyplace else in a rush and that is not a tantrum. He clearly felt the necessity to go public with one thing as a result of he felt he wasn’t listened to sufficient on the throughout the crew.
“I additionally suppose it is the beginning of a really, very lengthy season and after the race in Bahrain there have been a whole lot of very disenchanted drivers. Feelings, sheer frustration and disappointments I feel have been pouring out as a result of they realized Pink Bull have been in a distinct race.
Brundle added: “I do not suppose Lewis is in a distinct place to say Lando or Charles at Ferrari to faucet your foot a bit and say, ‘wait, what are you doing about that?
“Inform me what we’re doing by way of updates, by way of employees, by way of pushing this recreation ahead as a result of it is wanting so much like final 12 months proper now.”
“I do not suppose it is about ‘I am leaving, I am out of right here’. Generally you simply must stand up and say ‘it isn’t proper’.
Nonetheless, Brundle urged the criticism of Hamilton may very well be a “little bit of a recreation” amid negotiations with Mercedes over a contract extension.
“Now we have to keep in mind that Lewis is in the midst of negotiations as nicely,” Brundle stated.
“I am 100 per cent sure that Lewis would at all times comply with the efficiency and never the cash, however you are not going to show down a giant paycheck if you will get that too.
“There could be some stress at Mercedes-Benz to chop his wage, so to talk. So there is a little bit of bargaining and a little bit of play in there as nicely.
Brundle stated he additionally believed Hamilton could be tempted to attempt to emulate Michael Schumacher by becoming a member of Ferrari and assist flip F1’s most well-known crew into winners.
