Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes ‘a bit misplaced’ with automotive at Singapore GP and expresses Q3 qualifying concern | F1 Information

Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes are “just a bit lost” with their automotive after a “very challenging” begin to the Singapore GP weekend which has left him involved about whether or not they are going to make the grid’s high 10 in qualifying on Saturday.

With Mercedes aiming to hit again on the streets of Marina Bay following a troublesome Baku relative to the front-runners final week, when Hamilton specifically endured a troublesome weekend after an engine penalty left him beginning the race behind the sector, the crew’s drivers each struggled with a misbehaving W15 on Friday.

Hamilton completed each classes exterior of the highest 10 and whereas team-mate George Russell fared slightly higher within the extra consultant floodlit working to take seventh, his Follow Two ended with a late crash into the boundaries.

“The car feels very difficult. A very challenging day,” mentioned Hamilton after ending eleventh quickest and 0.982s off the tempo set by McLaren’s Lando Norris.

“We tried all the pieces set-up clever and nothing appears to work with the set-up. Undoubtedly very difficult.

“We are giving it everything then you find out you are a second off. Ultimately, just a bit lost. Not really sure where to put the car.”

Requested about whether or not set-up adjustments made to the automotive between the 2 observe classes had made any distinction, Hamilton replied: “No. We tried a lot and achieved the same thing.”

And on the proof of Friday’s kind with out enchancment, Hamilton predicted: “At the moment we won’t be going into Q3.”

Russell: We now have numerous work on our arms

Though he could have completed barely nearer to the entrance, Russell reported related points and issues to Hamilton on the finish of the session.

Requested concerning the crash within the closing moments of P2 which noticed him nostril the barrier and harm the entrance of his automotive at Flip Eight, Russell mentioned: “Not a lot to say, really. Locked up, took the front wing off.

“It was a extremely difficult Friday for us.

“We were really off the pace; we need to understand why that is. I’m sure we’ll find some answers.

“We’ve made some big changes from FP1 into FP2 but the car’s just not really feeling that well connected as it was this time 12 months ago and in recent races, so we need to try and get to the bottom of it.”

Though Mercedes did outpace struggling Crimson Bull, they themselves completed behind each RB automobiles – the crew which proved the day’s shock bundle – whereas the hole to the lead McLaren and Ferrari automobiles was giant.

“There are a lot of surprises out there,” mentioned Russell, who crashed out late on whereas chasing victory in final yr’s Singapore race after qualifying on the entrance row.

“The VCARB [RB] is really quick, the Williams is really quick. The Red Bulls seem to be off the pace.

“There appears to be a giant hole to the McLarens and the Ferraris so at the least we hope to be between that midfield hole and the entrance 4. However proper now we now have obtained numerous work on our arms.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Singapore GP schedule

Saturday September 21
8am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Singapore GP Follow Three (session begins 10.30am)
1pm: Singapore GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: SINGAPORE GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book

Sunday September 22
8.30am: F1 Academy Race Two
11:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: The SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP response
4pm: Ted’s Pocket book

*additionally stay on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion

Formulation 1’s thrilling 2024 season continues stay on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend with extra gorgeous road circuit motion, this time below the lights on the Singapore Grand Prix. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime