Hamilton crashes following brake problem

06/02/2013

Mercedes start to the season has gone from bad to worse after Lewis Hamilton, on his debut with the German team, crashed into the barriers following a brake problem this morning.

The British driver was on his fourth run of the morning, having completed 15 timed laps, the best being a 1:19.519, when he went off across the gravel and into the barriers at Turn 6.

Though the Englishman was unhurt, the W04 suffered a damaged front wing and nose, the German team admitting that the car had suffered "a loss of rear brake pressure".

In a follow up, Mercedes admitted that it had; "traced the problem to the hydraulic brake line connecting to the right-rear caliper. The impact with the barrier also damaged the front left corner (suspension and associated aero parts)."

The team was unable to say when the car would be back on track.

Yesterday, the team lost time when a problem with a wiring loom caused a fire at the back of the car whilst Nico Rosberg was driving, the German stopping out on track. The team didn't run the car again, Rosberg having completed only 14 laps.

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