Lewis Hamilton expressed confidence in having made significant progress with his F1 qualifying performance after a pivotal moment at the Spanish Grand Prix. This race marked only the second occasion this year that Hamilton outqualified his teammate, George Russell. He leveraged his third-place start into a season-first podium, signaling Mercedes’ positive momentum. Despite trailing Russell 8-2 in their qualifying matchups, Hamilton cited a comprehensive analysis of his Saturday performances, pinpointing tyre management as a key factor. In discussions with media, including Crash.net, he emphasized ongoing improvements and strategic adjustments during qualifying sessions. Hamilton also noted that the demanding characteristics of the Mercedes W15 have compounded his qualifying difficulties.
Hamilton Describes Challenging Dynamics of This Year’s Mercedes
The seven-time world champion characterized the current Mercedes as extremely precarious, referring to it as “on a knife edge.” He elaborated that the car’s aerodynamics present a significant challenge, making it difficult to achieve a balance with the mechanical aspects. Particularly, adjusting the aerodynamic balance from high to low speed poses complexities. Hamilton also highlighted the critical role of tyre temperature management, citing the Ferraris’ struggle in Montreal, where they failed to advance past Q2, as a testament to the sensitivity of tyre temperature this season—more so than in previous years. Presently, Hamilton is ranked eighth in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, trailing his teammate Russell by 11 points.
