Lewis Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with his performance on the first day of the Grand Prix weekend in Mexico City. Despite finishing fifth in the second free practice, the seven-time world champion said it ‘didn’t feel so good’. However, the British driver predicts that the McLarens will be strong throughout the weekend, describing them as a ‘great team’.
Lewis Hamilton is facing the prospect of ending his first Ferrari season without a podium finish. The driver has not made it to the podium this year, except during sprint races, and has consequently taken over the unwanted record from former Ferrari driver Didier Pironi. Hamilton’s performance in his SF-25 was also disappointing on Friday in Mexico City. The seven-time world champion sat out the first free practice – rookie Antonio Fuoco took over his car – before he could not climb higher than fifth place in the second free practice.”Was it a long day today?” Sky Sport reporter David Croft asked his compatriot in Mexico. “It’s been a long year already,” sighed Hamilton, who was somewhat pleased with his fifth place. “I’m surprised we’re relatively close, given that it didn’t feel so good,” the Brit continued to the assembled media. “I mean, every time you come here, the grip, because of the altitude we’re at, is quite low. We’re all driving with quite high downforce, but it feels lower than in Monza. So you’re sliding around looking for grip, but it’s just not there.” Hamilton predicted that he still has ‘a lot of work to do’ from Friday to Saturday to find a more ‘streamlined balance’ for his SF-25.
McLaren
Teammate Charles Leclerc finished above Hamilton in the VT2 timesheet, and also saw how both McLaren drivers were slower. Yet, the Monegasque fears the good long runs of Lando Norris, he told his race engineer Bryan Bozzi. “I think McLaren is on another planet, isn’t it?” asked Leclerc, to which Bozzi replied: “Yes, for now Norris is very fast.”
Hamilton was asked about his teammate’s comment. “I haven’t seen anything of it, so I honestly have no idea. I’ve seen the GPS of one of the McLarens, but they think they’ve lost some time at the higher speeds,” said the Ferrari driver. “So I don’t know where they lost their pace, because at one point they were a second, eight tenths, half a second ahead. But I’m sure they’ll set a good pace again tomorrow, it’s a great team.”
