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 flooring.
Mercedes launched a brand new flooring 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 change 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 observe in Mexico and needed to revert to a fair older model of the ground, first launched at Might’s Miami Grand Prix, however nonetheless managed to higher Hamilton by virtually 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 yr.
“I’m losing all the time, that’s why I’ve been so bad in qualifying all year,” Hamilton instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “It is a regular factor and I am used to it.
“We have now executed every part. We labored so laborious within the background, like everybody does, to get the automobile in a pleasant place.
“It was feeling good in closing observe, 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.
“Every time I get to qualifying the car is completely different. I can’t pinpoint why, but it is what it is.”
George Russell (R) holds a 15-5 benefit over Lewis Hamilton of their 2024 qualifying head-to-head
Hamilton has been much more aggressive on Sundays and holds a 10-point lead over Russell within the drivers’ standings with 5 races of the 2024 season remaining.
Looking forward to the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton added: “Maybe George is more comfortable on the older package. I don’t know, we’ll see. We’ll get a good reading of which is best.”
Russell: It was one among my greatest laps of the season
Regardless of his spectacular qualifying type this season, Russell got here into the session underneath stress following his two heavy crashes, which left the Mercedes mechanics needing to work by way of the evening to have his automobile prepared for Saturday’s classes.
“The lap was really, really strong,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “After every part that occurred [on Friday] and Austin, it has been a whirlwind for us the final couple of weeks and now racing on a flooring that we introduced in Miami, 14 races in the past, to be proper up there solely a tenth behind P3 was actually robust and I am fairly happy with it.
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Mercedes driver George Russell had an enormous crash into the boundaries throughout second observe on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
“We are in Miami-spec at the moment. Obviously all down to my own issues and incidents that I’ve had. It’s put a lot of pressure on the team, they did a great job in Austin to sort the car, they did a great job last night, it’s put a lot of pressure on everyone at the factory.
“So from that aspect I am just a little bit upset with myself, however I am pushing the bounds and I am making an attempt to get extra from this automobile. Now possibly we simply want to just accept we’re the fourth-fastest staff. We needs to be qualifying seventh and eighth, at the moment we certified fifth and sixth in order that needs to be day.”
As to how he was in a position to carry out Hamilton by such a major margin, Russell believed he had produced one among his greatest laps of the season.
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Sky F1’s Martin Brundle was trackside to take a look at the harm George Russell did to his Mercedes after having an enormous crash throughout P2 in Mexico.
“It was really close with Lewis and I the whole session, I don’t know what happened with him at the end,” the Brit added.
“My lap I was really happy with, I think it was one of my best 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, should you 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 isn’t simply right down to the upgrades.”
Bernie: Younger Russell should have better reactions than Hamilton
Reaction to Hamilton’s post-session interview, Sky Sports F1 pundit and former Aston Martin head of race strategy Bernie Collins analysed the 39-year-old’s struggles.
“I feel qualifying has been a battle for Lewis on this season significantly,” Collins said.
“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 look at it that way, George should have the quicker reactions, which is more important in qualifying. But Lewis is always there or there about in race pace. So, it is about converting on Saturday and it’s sad to see him so disappointed there.”
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Lewis Hamilton drops out of Q1 at the US Grand Prix.
Regardless of Hamilton saying that on this event he had made minimal adjustments to his automobile between closing observe and qualifying, Collins questioned whether or not late weekend changes to the W15 have contributed to his lack of one-lap velocity.
“Regularly when we’re in the pit lane between P3 and qualifying, they’re tearing Lewis’ car apart to make some changes, and George is pretty happy,” Collins stated.
“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 talk a lot about letting the track come to you and letting the grip change. You don’t need to turn the world around based on the P3 standings. So maybe there’s a little bit of that.
“There are such advantageous 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 dwell Mexico Metropolis GP schedule
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Look again at a number 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 dwell on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion (Race build-up on Sunday from 7.30pm)
Formulation 1’s Americas triple header continues with the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 8pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Major Occasion. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
