Lewis Hamilton has admitted he’s “used to” being outqualified by George Russell after shedding out on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix regardless of his Mercedes team-mate utilizing a considerably older automobile ground.
Mercedes launched a brand new ground finally weekend’s United States Grand Prix, however as each drivers struggled with the dealing with of the W15, Russell crashed in qualifying and for Sunday’s race in Austin needed to swap again to an iteration of the ground first run at July’s British Grand Prix.
The Brit then crashed once more throughout Friday’s second apply in Mexico and needed to revert to a fair older model of the ground, first launched at Could’s Miami Grand Prix, however nonetheless managed to higher Hamilton by nearly three tenths of a second as they certified fifth and sixth.
Russell’s qualifying head-to-head benefit over Hamilton is now at 15-5 for the season, which is the seven-time world champion’s final at Mercedes earlier than he joins Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
Highlights from Saturday’s qualifying on the Mexico Metropolis GP.
“I am shedding on a regular basis, that is why I have been so unhealthy in qualifying all 12 months,” Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities F1. “It is a regular factor and I am used to it.
“We’ve executed all the pieces. We labored so exhausting within the background, like everybody does, to get the automobile in a pleasant place.
“It was feeling good in closing apply, so we had been like, ‘let’s not contact something or do something’. All we modified was the rear wing and it is only a drastic distinction.
“Each time I get to qualifying the automobile is totally totally different. I am unable to pinpoint why, however it’s what it’s.”
George Russell (R) holds a 15-5 benefit over Lewis Hamilton of their 2024 qualifying head-to-head
Hamilton has been way more aggressive on Sundays and holds a 10-point lead over Russell within the drivers’ standings with 5 races of the 2024 season remaining.
Waiting for the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton added: “Perhaps George is extra snug on the older bundle. I do not know, we’ll see. We’ll get a superb studying of which is finest.”
Russell: It was certainly one of my finest laps of the season
Regardless of his spectacular qualifying type this season, Russell got here into the session below stress following his two heavy crashes, which left the Mercedes mechanics needing to work by the night time to have his automobile prepared for Saturday’s periods.
“The lap was actually, actually sturdy,” Russell advised Sky Sports activities F1. “After all the pieces that occurred [on Friday] and Austin, it has been a whirlwind for us the final couple of weeks and now racing on a ground that we introduced in Miami, 14 races in the past, to be proper up there solely a tenth behind P3 was actually sturdy and I am fairly happy with it.
Mercedes driver George Russell had a large crash into the boundaries throughout second apply on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
“We’re in Miami-spec in the intervening time. Clearly all all the way down to my very own points and incidents that I’ve had. It is put a number of stress on the crew, they did an excellent job in Austin to kind the automobile, they did an excellent job final night time, it is put a number of stress on everybody on the manufacturing facility.
“So from that aspect I am just a little bit disillusioned with myself, however I am pushing the boundaries and I am making an attempt to get extra from this automobile. Now possibly we simply want to simply accept we’re the fourth-fastest crew. We must be qualifying seventh and eighth, immediately we certified fifth and sixth in order that must be a superb day.”
As to how he was capable of carry out Hamilton by such a big margin, Russell believed he had produced certainly one of his finest laps of the season.
Sky F1’s Martin Brundle was trackside to have a look at the injury George Russell did to his Mercedes after having an enormous crash throughout P2 in Mexico.
“It was actually shut with Lewis and I the entire session, I do not know what occurred with him on the finish,” the Brit added.
“My lap I used to be actually proud of, I believe it was certainly one of my better of the season.
“On the finish of the day I used to be nonetheless half a second or so from pole place however we all know from one session to the following, for those who take yesterday for instance, I used to be quickest in FP1 and the 2 laps I did in FP2 we had been P10. So, it is not simply all the way down to the upgrades.”
Bernie: Youthful Russell ought to have higher reactions than Hamilton
Response to Hamilton’s post-session interview, Sky Sports activities F1 pundit and former Aston Martin head of race technique Bernie Collins analysed the 39-year-old’s struggles.
“I believe qualifying has been a wrestle for Lewis on this season significantly,” Collins mentioned.
“George is doing higher however then they are much extra evenly matched within the race. Perhaps that is what you’d count on just a little bit on the stage that they are at of their profession.
“If we have a look at it that approach, George ought to have the faster reactions, which is extra essential in qualifying. However Lewis is at all times there or there about in race tempo. So, it’s about changing on Saturday and it is unhappy to see him so disillusioned there.”
Lewis Hamilton drops out of Q1 at america Grand Prix.
Regardless of Hamilton saying that on this event he had made minimal adjustments to his automobile between closing apply and qualifying, Collins questioned whether or not late weekend changes to the W15 have contributed to his lack of one-lap pace.
“Recurrently after we’re within the pit lane between P3 and qualifying, they’re tearing Lewis’ automobile aside to make some adjustments, and George is fairly blissful,” Collins mentioned.
“I do not know if that is an overreaction between Lewis and the engineers to no matter’s occurred in P3, and George is simply extra settled.
“We speak quite a bit about letting the monitor come to you and letting the grip change. You need not flip the world round primarily based on the P3 standings. So possibly there’s just a little little bit of that.
“There are such tremendous margins right here that just a little little bit of brake or tyre temperature makes all of the distinction, it is getting all of that collectively working.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Mexico Metropolis GP schedule
Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix
Sunday October 27
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico Metropolis GP build-up*
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico Metropolis GP response
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion (Race build-up on Sunday from 7.30pm)
System 1’s Americas triple header continues with the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 8pm, reside on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
