Optimism and Uncertainty: Lewis Hamilton Weighs Mercedes’ Chances at Zandvoort

Lewis Hamilton expressed that they have gained a much deeper understanding of the car, but he is uncertain whether Mercedes will secure a victory at Zandvoort.

Lewis Hamilton is uncertain if Mercedes has what it takes to compete for a win at the Dutch Grand Prix, even though the team had a strong beginning to the weekend.

On Friday at Zandvoort, Mercedes led the way as George Russell narrowly beat McLaren's Oscar Piastri by 0.061 seconds to secure the fastest time in a competitive second practice session.

In both the first and second practice sessions, Hamilton secured the third-fastest time, trailing his teammate Russell by a mere 0.111 seconds during the dry conditions on Friday afternoon. On the other hand, Max Verstappen, the current leader in the world championship, finished in fifth place and acknowledged that Red Bull was "a bit too slow."

Hamilton mentioned that he felt fine today and considered it a decent beginning to the weekend.

“There’s a significant improvement compared to last year. The car feels much more responsive and is performing excellently at the front of the pack.”

"We have a much deeper understanding of the car now, so beginning with a solid foundation and only needing minor adjustments from that point is extremely beneficial. It certainly makes our work more enjoyable."

The seven-time world champion commented that he "didn't fully maximize" his lap on the soft tires during the second practice session. He added, "There's still room for improvement. I need to fine-tune the setup a bit. Overall, it's looking positive."

When questioned about Mercedes' chances of winning, Hamilton responded, “I’m not sure if it’s for the victory. However, we’re certainly… at the very least, we're among the top five.”

Mercedes has secured victories in three out of the most recent four races, and Russell anticipates "a tight contest" with McLaren and Red Bull.

"It was extremely challenging due to the intense wind, the strongest I've experienced in recent years," he commented.

"The car is running great, and the new upgrades are functioning as anticipated. It appears to be a tight competition with the McLarens and Max, but things might change again tomorrow."

Speaking about Friday's unpredictable weather, Russell commented: “In the initial six races, the car lacked speed, but the weather remained stable, making those race weekends relatively uncomplicated for all involved.

"All of a sudden, just as the car started performing well in Canada and Silverstone, we faced numerous challenges, but it's a situation that everyone has to deal with."

"I'm thrilled to return and eagerly anticipate the challenge and thrill that come with qualifying. I've truly missed it."

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