Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “used” to being overtaken by George Russell after his Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix defeat, regardless of his Mercedes team-mate utilizing a clearly older automotive ground.
Mercedes launched the brand new ground finally weekend’s United States Grand Prix, however Russell crashed in qualifying as each drivers struggled with the dealing with of the W15, which happened in Austin on Sunday. The sport needed to be moved again to the ground for the primary race within the UK in July.
The Briton then crashed once more within the second apply session in Mexico on Friday and needed to revert to an older model of the ground, first launched on the Miami Grand Prix in Might, however was nonetheless faster than Hamilton Almost three-tenths of a second later, they completed fifth in qualifying and sixth.
Russell’s qualifying lead this season is 15-5 over Hamilton, with this being the seven-time world champion’s ultimate race at Mercedes earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
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Highlights from Saturday’s qualifying session for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
“I stored dropping and that is why I have been so dangerous in qualifying all 12 months,” Hamilton stated. Sky Sports activities F1. “That is regular, I am used to it.
“We have completed every part. We work onerous within the background like everybody does to get the automotive in a great place.
“It felt good within the final apply, so we thought, ‘Let’s not contact something or do something.’ All we modified was the rear wing, and it was simply an enormous distinction.
“Each time I’m going into qualifying, the automotive is totally completely different. I am unable to pinpoint why, however that is what it’s.”
George Russell (proper) leads Lewis Hamilton 15-5 within the 2024 qualifying head-to-head conflict
Hamilton was rather more aggressive on Sunday, holding a 10-point lead over Russell within the drivers’ championship with 5 races remaining within the 2024 season.
Waiting for the race at Rodriguez Speedway, Hamilton added: “Possibly George is extra snug with the outdated tools. I do not know, we’ll see. We’ll have a good suggestion of which one is greatest.”
Russell: This was one in all my greatest laps of the season
Regardless of his spectacular qualifying performances this season, Russell entered the race underneath stress after two severe crashes, which required Mercedes mechanics to work by way of the evening to get his The automotive is prepared for Saturday’s race.
“This lap was actually, actually robust,” Russell stated Sky Sports activities F1. “After every part occurred [on Friday] Austin, it has been a whirlwind for us the previous few weeks and now we’re taking part in on a subject that was launched in Miami 14 video games in the past and solely a tenth behind P3, which is actually robust and I am proud of it.
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Mercedes driver George Russell crashed onerous into the barrier throughout second apply for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
“We’re at Miami spec now. Clearly it is all due to my very own points and the incident I had. It places a variety of stress on the crew and so they did an important job sorting the automotive in Austin and so they did that Did an important job final evening and put a variety of stress on everybody within the manufacturing facility.
“So in that respect I am a bit disenchanted with myself, however I am pushing the envelope and I am making an attempt to get extra out of the automotive. Now possibly we simply have to just accept that we are the fourth quickest crew. We needs to be qualifying It was seventh and eighth, and immediately we certified fifth and sixth, so it needs to be a great day.
As for a way he was capable of overtake Hamilton by such a big margin, Russell believes he has set the most effective lap occasions of the season.
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Sky F1’s Martin Brundle was trackside observing the injury triggered to his Mercedes after George Russell’s severe crash within the P2 race in Mexico.
“Lewis and I had been very shut all through coaching and I do not know what occurred to him in the long run,” the Briton added.
“I am actually proud of my lap, I feel it is one in all my greatest laps of the season.
“On the finish of the day I used to be about half a second away from pole place, however we all know from one flip to the subsequent that if we take yesterday for example, I used to be quickest in FP1 and the 2 laps we ran in FP2 had been so, It isn’t only a matter of upgrading.
Bernie: Younger Russell ought to have had higher response than Hamilton
Reactions to Hamilton’s post-meeting interview, Sky Sports activities F1 Skilled Bernie Collins, former head of race technique at Aston Martin, analyzes the 39-year-old’s struggles.
“I feel qualifying this season has been significantly tough for Lewis,” Collins stated.
“George did higher, however they had been evenly matched within the sport. Possibly that is what you count on at this stage of their careers.
“If we take a look at it that approach, George ought to have faster reactions and that is extra necessary in qualifying. However Lewis is all the time there or there within the race tempo. So, it is concerning the transition on Saturday, seeing him So unhappy so disenchanted there.
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Lewis Hamilton withdrew from the primary season of the USA Grand Prix.
Though Hamilton stated he made minimal modifications to his automotive between ultimate apply and qualifying this time round, Collins questioned whether or not changes to the W15 over the weekend contributed to his lack of lap velocity.
“Normally, once we’re within the pits between third and qualifying, they’re going to take Lewis’ automotive aside and make some modifications and George may be very completely satisfied,” Collins stated.
“I do not know if Louis and the engineers overreacted to what occurred in P3, whereas George was extra settled.
“We talked rather a lot about letting the monitor come to you and altering the grip. You needn’t flip the world round based mostly on P3 rankings. So possibly slightly little bit of that.
“There’s such little margin right here that slightly little bit of braking or tire temperature makes a giant distinction and it makes all of that work.”
Sky Sports activities F1 Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix dwell schedule
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A glance again at a number of the most dramatic moments from the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix
Sunday, October 27
6.30pm: Sunday Grand Prix: Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix preparation*
8pm: Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix*
10pm: Checkered Flag: Reactions to Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix
*Additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion (sport begins at 7.30pm on Sunday)
The Components One Americas tripleheader continues with the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix on Sunday at 8pm, broadcast dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion. Watch every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Monthly Membership – no contract, cancel anytime
