Sports
Hamilton Cautiously Optimistic at Zandvoort: Mercedes Shows Promise but Victory Uncertain
"Lewis Hamilton expresses improved understanding of the car, yet remains uncertain about Mercedes' ability to secure a victory at Zandvoort. He shares his thoughts on whether Mercedes can compete for a win in the upcoming F1 race."
Lewis Hamilton is uncertain if Mercedes has what it takes to compete for a win at the F1 Dutch Grand Prix, even though they had an optimistic beginning to the event.
On Friday at Zandvoort, Mercedes led the way, with George Russell edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.061 seconds to secure the fastest time in a tightly contested second practice session.
Hamilton secured the third-fastest time in both the first and second free practice sessions, trailing his team member Russell by a mere 0.111 seconds during the dry conditions of Friday afternoon. On the other hand, the current leader in the world championship standings, Max Verstappen, placed fifth and acknowledged that Red Bull was "somewhat behind in speed."
"Hamilton mentioned, "I was feeling all right today. The weekend began on a decent note for me."
“There's a significant improvement from the previous year. The car is noticeably more responsive and is performing at the top level.”
"Our grasp of the car has significantly improved, allowing us to begin on a positive note right from the start and proceed with minor adjustments. This is undoubtedly beneficial and makes our work more pleasurable."
The seven-time world champion mentioned that he "didn't fully exploit" his soft tyre lap during FP2, noting: "There's still untapped potential. I need to make some adjustments to the setup. Apart from that, it's all positive."
When questioned about Mercedes' chances of winning, Hamilton responded, "I'm not sure if we're contenders for first place. However, we're certainly… at least among the top five."
Mercedes has clinched victories in three out of the past four contests, and Russell anticipates a tight competition with both McLaren and Red Bull.
"It was incredibly challenging out there due to the extremely strong winds, likely the most intense I've experienced in recent years," he commented.
"The vehicle was operating at a high level, having received enhancements that appear to be functioning according to plan. It seems to be a tight competition with the McLarens, alongside Max, though the situation might change by tomorrow."
During Friday's varying weather, Russell remarked, "In the initial six races, our car lagged in speed, but the weather remained steady, making those race weekends quite uneventful for all competitors.
"Out of the blue, the moment the car showed speed in Canada and Silverstone, we've faced numerous challenges, yet this situation is universal."
"I'm truly thrilled to return and am eager to experience the thrill and competition of qualifying once again. It's something I've longed for."
Discover More
Recent Updates
Recent Updates
Site Navigation
Crash.Net
©1999-2024 Crash Media Group
Reproducing the text, photos, or illustrations fully or partially is strictly prohibited in any manner.
Discover more from Automobilnews News - The first AI News Portal world wide
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.