Motor

Hamilton crashes at Jerez testing

Image: Lewis Hamilton (© Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton walks away from his car after crashing at Wednesday's testing in Jerez.
Share This Story

Updated Feb 6, 2013 4:24 PM ET
     
 

JEREZ, Spain (AP)

Lewis Hamilton was reduced to a spectator and his Mercedes team cut short its Formula One preseason trials after a brakes failure sent him crashing into the barrier in Jerez on Wednesday.


Hamilton's debut drive under competitive conditions for his new team came to a jarring halt after he'd set the second fastest lap of the day. The rear brakes failed at 250 kph (170 mph) due to a hydraulic fault and his Silver Arrow went straight on at the Dry Sack hairpin, careered across the gravel trap and slammed nose-first into a tire barrier.

Hamilton, unhurt, climbed out unaided from the cockpit and walked away in oil-spattered overalls, but his car's nose and front wing were damaged. "The front brakes enabled him to slow the car but, he couldn't avoid the barrier," Mercedes tweeted.

It has not been a good start for the team, as Nico Rosberg endured a spectacular car failure with flames erupting from his car's rear on Tuesday. Rosberg has been unable to resume testing. After a few warm-up laps, Hamilton looked to be comfortable behind the wheel and clocked a fast 1 minute, 19.519 seconds on medium compound tires.

The abrupt end to testing came on turn six after just 15 laps, only four more than Rosberg managed on Tuesday before what the team said was an electrical problem in the wiring loom. All hope of Hamilton returning to the track was scotched when Mercedes said it was stopping testing for the day.

"We will not run again today as work continues with the repairs required on the car," it said in a Tweet. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, Hamilton's replacement at McLaren, took to the track for the first time. However, it was Lotus driver Romain Grosjean who beat Jenson Button's previous day's benchmark time, a fraction ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in a Toro Rosso.

Sauber said it had a good roll-out of its C32-Ferrari as driver Nico Hulkenberg completed 79 laps "without any noteworthy problems."

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by
FOX Fantasy Auto Racing


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

Motor Videos

MOTO2: Espargaró Wins - Catalunya GP Posted: Jun 16, 2013
Moto2: Pol Espargaró holds off teammate Esteve "Tito" Rabat for his second win ...

MOTOGP: Onboard Lap - Catalunya GP 2013 Posted: Jun 15, 2013
MotoGP: SPEED takes you for a lap around the Circuit de Catalunya, a 2.892 mi r...

AMA MX 450: High Point Recap - 2013 Posted: Jun 10, 2013
AMX MX 450: Ryan Villopoto rebounds from a loss to Ryan Dungey last week for ano...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/118804/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_118000/FF_118804_xl.jpg&w=100 249.95 Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Bulls/browse/featuredproduct/173568/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173568_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/177922/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177922_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball..
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/177923/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177923_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey - Gold http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/177924/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177924_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketbal..
    adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/178326/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178326_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Bas..
    adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Philadelphia_76ers/browse/featuredproduct/178582/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178582_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman..
    adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/178773/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178773_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft