Just five days after finishing a close second on the road to Max Verstappen at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties in the Friday practice sessions for the Mexico Grand Prix. In the first practice session (FP1), Hamilton finished in 11th place, followed by a slightly better performance in the second practice session (FP2) where he secured the seventh position. However, he was still 0.338 seconds behind the pacesetting Red Bull driver. Similarly, his teammate, George Russell, also struggled and managed to secure the 10th position in FP2 after handing his car to Mercedes junior driver Frederik Vesti for the first session. The Mercedes drivers were not satisfied with the performance of their cars and expressed their dissatisfaction and struggles throughout the day.
Hamilton, when asked about his Friday, expressed his disappointment, describing it as “dodgy” and a “struggle.” He noted that the car felt completely different compared to the previous week at COTA. Hamilton admitted that he was finding it challenging to extract the necessary performance from the car, as its behavior seemed inconsistent. Some days, the car performs exceptionally well, while on others, it falls short of expectations. The British driver remains hopeful that the car can be improved for the upcoming Saturday sessions. He believes there is potential for improved performance and mentions the importance of finding the right setup to extract maximum performance.
Unpredictability of the Car and Hamilton’s Confidence
Hamilton admitted that the unpredictable behavior of the car made it difficult to predict the extent of performance that could be extracted from it. He remains unsure of what to expect and believes that making the necessary setup changes might improve their chances of closing the gap to the front-runners. Hamilton expressed his confidence in the car, highlighting the need to figure out how to make it easier to extract its full potential.
George Russell, who missed FP1, also faced challenges during the practice sessions. He noted the presence of various factors, including rain and the use of prototype Pirelli tires, which contributed to the disappointing performance. Despite the difficulties, Russell shares Hamilton’s optimism regarding the car’s potential for improvement overnight. He acknowledges the competitiveness of the field and the unexpected presence of some cars in the top 10. Russell believes that the challenging Friday has provided valuable insights and guidance for the team’s preparations for Saturday.
Learning from Difficult Moments
Reflecting on the struggles faced during the practice sessions, Russell highlights the learning opportunities that arise from difficult moments. He believes that dealing with a negative car and having an underwhelming day provides a chance to gain more knowledge and understanding. Russell acknowledges the desire to fight for pole position and recognizes Max Verstappen’s consistent performance. However, he also emphasizes that anyone who gets everything right has the potential to compete for the front two rows.
Mercedes faced significant challenges during the Friday practice sessions for the Mexico Grand Prix. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell expressed their dissatisfaction with the performance of their cars. However, they remain hopeful and optimistic about making the necessary improvements overnight to enhance their chances in the upcoming sessions. The unpredictable nature of the car’s behavior seems to be a major hurdle for the team, but they believe that by finding the right setup and making adjustments, they can extract the desired performance. The difficult Friday has provided valuable insights for the team, and they aim to apply these learnings to bounce back stronger on Saturday.
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