Lewis Hamilton has admitted that Ferrari are “nonetheless investigating” precisely what went incorrect together with his automotive in FP2 on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, with the Briton “praying that the whole lot’s okay”.
As the one workforce to not run a rookie through the first hour of observe, Ferrari put their challenger to the take a look at in numerous methods, together with becoming an aero rake to Hamilton’s SF-26 earlier than he launched into his consultant laps.
He finally completed fourth behind chief Charles Leclerc and the Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and Fred Vesti, however any hope of discovering extra time later within the day was disrupted when he was ordered to cease the automotive after struggling a power-related situation.
Requested how he felt earlier than the stoppage, which restricted him to P11 on the timesheets, Hamilton mentioned: “I used to be feeling actually good within the automotive – it’s simply my luck. I believe we did a extremely good job in getting the set-up in a greater place. Simply actually unlucky.
“I believe we’re actually aggressive this weekend as a workforce. I didn’t get to do the lengthy runs so I don’t know, however I do know it’s actually arduous to overhaul right here, as you noticed with some folks on the market. They’re nonetheless investigating to search out out what was incorrect, and simply praying that the whole lot’s okay.
“I missed somewhat little bit of time in FP1 as a result of we did the rake operating. Usually I’d have one of many younger drivers do FP1 at this monitor like most individuals did, however I opted to do it some other place.
“Principally I’ve solely actually had one session as a result of I missed no less than half of that session. I don’t suppose we have to make many modifications to the set-up. I’d most likely depart it a lot the identical as a result of we had been very fast.
“I believe I already had a lack of energy earlier on within the lap and was nonetheless fast. I’ll give it the whole lot tomorrow and simply attempt to do the most effective with no matter I’ve.”
Staff Principal Fred Vasseur defined on Friday that the workforce will “take a call tonight” on what must be carried out to repair Hamilton’s automotive earlier than FP3 and Qualifying, however was happy total with Ferrari’s displaying.
Though Leclerc topped each classes, his benefit diminished from almost seven-tenths to 0.103s, leaving the workforce aware of the shut competitors at Mexico Metropolis’s distinctive circuit.
“It is very early levels,” Vasseur mentioned. “You recognize that Mexico is a problem – it’s a problem with the altitude and for the automotive, for the drivers to search out the restrict.
“It’s like it’s – it is the identical for everyone and now we have to do plenty of work tonight to enhance the state of affairs.
“The tempo was there from this morning. From the primary lap the tempo was there on the lengthy stint, on one lap, and it signifies that now we have to finetune. We nonetheless have plenty of work to do on the set-up and on the automotive as a result of it is fairly excessive circumstances.
“You recognize that every weekend the competitors is mega tight. Final yr you had half a tenth between P2 and P6 and you may transfer from hero to zero. Let’s be targeted on ourselves, do not take into consideration classification and attempt to do the most effective from what now we have.”
