MEXICO CITY:
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell each stated they felt annoyed by the unpredictable efficiency of their automotive and the race stewards on Saturday after qualifying sixth and eighth for Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix.
Each drivers struggled to ship constant laps in changeable circumstances on the excessive altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, set at 2,250 metres above sea stage, and in addition confronted stewards’ investigations after the session.
Three-time world champion Max Verstappen of Crimson Bull additionally confronted an investigation after qualifying third behind the 2 Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Russell and Verstappen have been going through investigation for stopping within the pitlane, holding up a gaggle of vehicles, as they waited to time their last scorching laps whereas Hamilton was accused of ignoring yellow flags.
“I have been struggling all weekend with this automotive,” stated Hamilton, who completed final Sunday’s United States Grand Prix solely two seconds behind the victorious Verstappen earlier than being disqualified when his automotive failed a post-race scrutineering take a look at.
“It has been a little bit of a nightmare to drive and it simply would not like this observe. We made some good modifications. In Q1 and Q2, it wasn’t trying too dangerous, however then in Q3 the automotive was actually peaky – generally it really works, generally it would not.
“I wasn’t capable of extract rather more from it once more. Most likely, I might have been fifth, however that is about it. It will be an actual problem tomorrow. Will probably be very laborious for us to battle – it’ll be on a knife edge.”
Russell stated: “It has been actually irritating this weekend and we have been up and down like a yo-yo. At one level, we have been quickest in FP3, in Q2 we have been first and third after which in Q3 we have been nowhere.”
He stated he was unaware of the stewards’ investigations till after the session.
“I wasn’t conscious of it. I feel it was Q2 – and it was an entire mess as everybody was exiting the pits. They ask us to not cease within the pit lane to get your hole, which suggests it’s a must to take your hole on observe.
“For me, to go 10 miles an hour down the straight with vehicles passing at 220 mph I feel is much more harmful than doing it within the pit lane.
“I do not count on something to come back from it, however for positive a greater answer must be discovered.”