British drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, followed a divergent strategy from other teams during the inaugural day of races, avoiding the use of soft tyres in FP1.
Yet, despite employing a softer tyre compound in the afternoon, neither of the drivers noticed significant lap time improvements, leaving them puzzled about the situation. Hamilton ranked 15th in FP2, while Russell achieved a slightly better 12th place.
Hamilton expressed his concerns, stating, “We’re consistently wrestling with the same issues. The car is challenging to handle. Regardless of the set-up adjustments we make, driving remains difficult. I didn’t observe any notable improvement when switching tyres, which implies there’s an underlying issue. We seem to be missing a key component. However, on the bright side, our long run performance didn’t seem too bad.”
Hamilton acknowledged that the car’s long run pace was ambiguous, as he felt the speed increment towards the end of his stint.
He elaborated, “I won’t deny that it didn’t feel exceptional, but it must have felt worse for others as they weren’t as fast or potentially suffered more degradation. The final part of my run was beginning to feel consistent, due to one reason or another. It could’ve been the wind, balance adjustments, or my adaption to the balance.”
Hamilton added, “The challenge lies in achieving equilibrium throughout the course and making sacrifices where necessary. The balance teeters on a fine edge with a broad balance window. It’s a constant tug of war – never stable. It’s a spectrum that varies from braking to turning in, to mid, and the exit of every corner. It’s indeed a compelling battle.”
Photo Credit: Mark Sutton / F1 Flow Images – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
Russell mirrored Hamilton’s confusion, stating there was no apparent reason for the outcome and that further examination would be essential before the races on Saturday.
“We’ve definitely seen better Fridays,” Russell admitted. “Tomorrow’s conditions may differ, but we need to understand the situation better, as our pace in FP1 with the medium tyre was promising.”
Russell added, “We were optimistic that the soft tyre would enhance our performance, but in FP2, we were disappointing. So, we need to decipher what went wrong.”
Hamilton also mentioned that the ambiguities in Mercedes’ performance were exacerbated by both he and Russell considering switching set-ups to replicate each other’s configurations.
Hamilton explained, “George and I discussed our different set-ups, and he considered adopting mine, despite my slower lap time. I was also contemplating copying his. But we’ll make an effort to resolve it tonight.”
Hamilton concluded, “Mick will do some simulation work tonight, and we’re hopeful to come up with a solution for tomorrow.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mercedes F1 car performance
What issues did Lewis Hamilton and George Russell face at Silverstone?
Hamilton and Russell struggled with the performance of their Mercedes F1 car at Silverstone. Despite trying different tyre compounds and setups, they found no significant improvement in lap times, which left them confused and concerned.
Who ranked better in FP2, Lewis Hamilton or George Russell?
George Russell ranked better than Lewis Hamilton in FP2. Russell achieved a 12th place, whereas Hamilton ended up in 15th.
What did Hamilton and Russell plan to do to improve their performance?
Hamilton and Russell planned to further analyze their cars’ performance and possibly switch their setups to improve their performance. They also mentioned that simulation work would be conducted to hopefully come up with a solution for the following day.
What was the positive aspect Hamilton mentioned about their car performance?
Hamilton mentioned that the car’s performance during the long runs didn’t seem too bad, despite the other difficulties they were experiencing. He also noticed a speed increment towards the end of his stint, which he considered a positive sign.
How did Russell describe the performance in FP1 and FP2?
Russell stated that their pace in FP1 with the medium tyre was reasonably good and promising. However, he was disappointed with the performance in FP2 despite expecting the soft tyre to enhance their performance.
More about Mercedes F1 car performance
- Lewis Hamilton’s Official Site
- George Russell’s Official Profile
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
- F1 News
- Silverstone Circuit
5 comments
kinda surprised to see hamilton and russell struggling, they are usually on point with their cars. Mercedes needs to step up the game!
Hamiton and russel underperfoming? no way! It’s gotta be a mechanical issue.
silverstone is a challenging circuit, so issues can crop up. hope they get it sorted before the race.
c’mon Hamilton, you’ve got this! He’s seen tougher days and he always bounces back, just a minor hiccup I’d say.
Honestly, this is what makes F1 interesting. Even the greats struggle sometimes, it’s not all about winning but also how they deal with the tough times. stay strong, guys.