Hamilton confidence in Mercedes 'dented ' believes Coulthard

Former driver and BBC pundit David Coulthard believes Lewis Hamilton's trust in Mercedes strategy calls has eroded since the German team's epic pit stop fail in Monaco two weeks ago.

Although Hamilton also engaged in the ill-fated decision to pit during the Safety Car period and  was therefore partly responsible for his race's disappointing outcome, Coulthard still thinks the current world championship leader will exert caution the next time his team makes a strategic call.

“The next time Mercedes come over the radio and tell Lewis to come into the pits, expect him to be a little more than wary in his response. And quite rightly so," Coulthard wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.

The Scott believes any unintentional undermining between team and driver will undoubtedly work against Hamilton's quest for success.

“It will be extremely tricky to manage. An instruction from the team does not necessarily have to be obeyed, but if as a driver you start doubting every call then the fundamentals of how Formula 1 works start to break down.
“Lewis will come back in Canada knowing that he has the speed, but it will take time to heal the wounds and rebuild his total trust in the team.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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