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PAGES OF Lewis begs Mercedes to help former team GREYHOUNDS
LEWIS HAMILTON has called on his Mercedes team to rescue McLaren from their nightmare slump.
McLaren are the only team to have failed to win a point this season, their third of a catastrophic tieup with engine suppliers Honda. On top of that, brassed off double world champion Fernando Alonso and McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne will start at the back of the grid in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix because the team have used too many new engine parts. Hamilton won his first – and McLaren’s last – title in 2008 in a Mercedes-powered car. And while talks are ongoing between McLaren and Honda, it is believed that the Woking-based outfit, who have not won a race since Hamilton MOHICAN ENNIS HURRYUP MERCEDES SUIRVIEW ROUTE ARKLOW AIR FORCE TRY AGAIN SAL CU SITH GHILLE CAULRY TINA FEALESUIR FRED BRANDY SNAP MANDEVILLE ICON LITHUANIANBUSTER SPOT FIVE GLASHEEN SUZIE JAMBALAYA ® left in 2012, are keen to return to Mercedes power next season.
“It would be great for McLaren and it will be fantastic if it happens,” said triple champion Hamilton.
“McLaren belong at the front with the top teams. They have had a disaster of a time over the past few years.
“They are having a struggle right now and it does not look like it will change any time soon.
“I hope they get our engine or Ferrari’s engine next year so they can be up there with the top teams.
“It will be great if McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari are all battling.”
Hamilton, who is 12 points behind Ferrari’s championship leader Sebastian Vettel after victory last time out in Canada, also wants to see his former McLaren teammate Alonso (inset) back challenging for honours.
Mercedes engines could provide the 35-year-old Spaniard, who won the last of his two championships in 2006, with the machinery to take the fight to both Hamilton and Vettel in 2018, if he stays. “That would be great for the sport,” added Hamilton. “We are seeing a really good year this year, and I hope and pray that next year and the following seasons are going to be close like this. “It will be great if Fernando is up there racing with us at the front. That is where he belongs.” Honda have brought a number of upgrades to Baku but Alonso, who fears he could lose up to three seconds on the 1.4-mile main straight, the longest in F1, does not believe they will have much of an impact. “It is going to be a difficult weekend,” he said. “The deficit on the straight here is one of the highest on the calendar. We expect a tough time.”