The “kick in the teeth” that proved Mercedes’ deeper F1 car problem

Mercedes struggled with a bouncing issue on its W13 car under the revised technical regulations for 2022 that blighted its early-season form.

But after debuting a significant upgrade package in Barcelona, George Russell finished third and Lewis Hamilton recovered to fifth despite a first-lap incident that dropped him to the back of the field, giving the team belief it had solved the problem.

Hamilton said it offered a “glimpse of hope” for Mercedes’ season by…