Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is “used to” losing to George Russell after losing the Mexico City Grand Prix despite his Mercedes team-mate using a significantly older car floor.
Mercedes debuted the new floor at last weekend’s US Grand Prix, but with both drivers struggling with the handling of the W15, Russell crashed out in qualifying and Sunday’s race at Austin had to switch back to the first running iteration of the floor in England in July. grand prix.
The Briton crashed again during second practice in Mexico on Friday and had to revert to a much older version of the floor first introduced at the Miami Grand Prix in May. sixth.
Russell’s qualifying lead over Hamilton currently stands at 15-5 on the season. It will be the seven-time world champion’s last with Mercedes before he joins Ferrari next year.
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Mexico City GP Saturday qualifying highlights.
“I’m always losing, so I haven’t performed well in qualifying all year,” Hamilton said. Sky Sports F1. “This is normal, I’m used to it.
“We did everything. We worked hard at the back, like everyone else, to get the car in a good place.
“I was feeling good during the last practice, so I said, ‘Don’t touch anything, don’t do anything.’ The only thing we changed was the rear wing, and that was a noticeable difference.
“Every time I qualify, the car is completely different. I’m not exactly sure why, but it is what it is.”
George Russell (R) holds a 15-5 advantage over Lewis Hamilton in the 2024 qualifying head-to-head.
Hamilton was much more competitive on Sunday and is 10 points ahead of Russell in the drivers’ standings with five races remaining in the 2024 season.
Ahead of the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton added: “Maybe George will be more comfortable with the previous package. I don’t know. We’ll see. I’ll read carefully to see which one is best.”
Russell: That was one of the best raps of the season.
Despite his impressive qualifying performance this season, Russell entered the session feeling under pressure after two big crashes. This forced Mercedes mechanics to work through the night to prepare the car for Saturday’s session.
“The rap was really, really strong,” Russell said. Sky Sports F1. “After everything that happened in Austin (on Friday), it’s been a whirlwind for us the last few weeks and now we’re racing on the floor we brought to Miami 14 races ago and we’re only a tenth behind P3. We’ve been really strong and I am very satisfied with it.
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Mercedes driver George Russell suffered a massive crash when he crashed into a barrier during second practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
“We’re currently at Miami spec, obviously it’s all because of the issues and incidents I’ve had. It’s putting a lot of pressure on the team and they’ve done a great job in Austin getting the car sorted. Everyone at the factory did a great job last night. It has been a huge burden on people.
“So in that respect I am a little disappointed in myself, but I am trying to push the limits and get more out of this car. Now we will have to accept the fact that we are the fourth fastest team. “We have to qualify in 7th and 8th, and today we qualified in 5th and 6th, so it will be a good day.”
As for how he was able to outperform Hamilton by such a significant margin, Russell believed he produced one of his best laps of the season.
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Sky F1’s Martin Brundle was at the trackside to inspect the damage George Russell caused to his Mercedes after suffering a heavy crash during P2 in Mexico.
“Lewis and I were really close throughout the session. I don’t know what happened to him at the end,” the Briton added.
“I was really happy with my lap, I think it was one of my best laps of the season.
“In the end I was still about half a second off pole position, but every session, take yesterday for example, when I was fastest in FP1 and two laps in FP2, so it wasn’t just about the upgrades.”
Bernie: Young Russell should react better than Hamilton.
Reaction to Hamilton’s post-session interview; Sky Sports F1 Expert and former Aston Martin head of racing strategy Bernie Collins analyzed the 39-year-old’s difficulties.
“I think qualifying has been difficult for Lewis, especially this season,” Collins said.
“George is doing better, but they are much more evenly matched in the races, and maybe that’s a little bit to be expected at that stage of their careers.
“If you look at it that way, George needs to react quicker and that’s more important in qualifying. But Lewis is always up there in terms of race pace. So it’s about turning on Saturday and it’s sad to see him like that. Disappointed there. .”
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Lewis Hamilton was eliminated from the first quarter of the United States Grand Prix.
Despite Hamilton taking this opportunity to say he made only minimal changes to the car between final practice and qualifying, Collins questioned whether late weekend adjustments to the W15 had a role in the lack of lap one speed.
“When we are regularly in the pit lane between P3 and qualifying, they are taking Lewis’ car apart to make some changes and George is very happy,” Collins said.
“I don’t know if it was an overreaction between Lewis and the engineers to what happened in P3, but George seemed a little more settled.
“We talk a lot about letting the track come to you and changing your grip. A P3 position doesn’t have to change the world, so there’s probably a little bit of that.
“There are subtle differences here where a little bit of brake or tire temperature can make a big difference. It’s about making everything work together.”
Live Mexico City GP schedule on Sky Sports F1
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Take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments from the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Sunday, October 27
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP strengthened*
8 p.m.: Mexico City Grand Prix*
10pm: Checkered flag: Mexico City GP reaction
*Also shown live on Sky Sports Main Event (race build-up from 7.30pm on Sunday).
Formula 1’s Americas triple-header continues at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday with the lights off at 8pm, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership. There is no contract and you can cancel at any time.
