Table of Content
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari could realistically fight for pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix after team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fastest in both of Friday’s practice sessions. The Briton experienced an issue in second practice that cost him the opportunity for a long run with high fuel, but the seven-time Formula 1 world champion remains optimistic about his team’s chances on Saturday.
Practice Performance and Technical Issues
Hamilton praised the handling of his vehicle prior to the setback, noting that setup adjustments had put the team in a strong position. He explained that the machine felt great and they were genuinely strong until the trouble struck.
Speaking about the problem, Hamilton stated, “It felt really good up until then. That was feeling great. And we did a good job with set-up changes. Car was in a good place and we were just actually strong. But even on my lap, we were losing power in a few places, so I lost three tenths already before as well. Underlying is a really good car this weekend.”
Addressing Altitude and Straight-Line Speed
The Scuderia squad entered the weekend as a favorite among fans, with expectations that its power unit would handle the high-altitude conditions better due to a smaller turbocharger. Mercedes driver George Russell suggested on Thursday that this factor could provide the Italian cars with a significant advantage in the thin air of Mexico City. However, Hamilton dismissed those lofty expectations, pointing out that rival teams still maintain high speeds at the end of the straights.
Hamilton said, “I don’t really agree on the turbo thing. If you look at the speeds to the Mercedes and the Red Bull, they’re still quick at the end of the straights, like they are every race. So the turbo is just not making a difference. It’s still pulling more at the end of straights. So I think we’re still losing a good two or three tenths, but the car is behaving very well.” McLaren driver Oscar Piastri similarly downplayed the theory, observing that the Ferrari appeared somewhat sluggish on the straights.
Qualifying Outlook and Race Preparation
Despite any straight-line deficit, Hamilton feels confident that Ferrari can contend for the front row, though he cautioned that competitors usually find additional pace when qualifying begins. He noted that Leclerc topped both sessions and acknowledged that while others always take another step, he feels they can be very close to challenging them.
Because he missed out on his long run data collection, Hamilton acknowledged he will need to depend on information gathered by other drivers to configure the car for Sunday’s grand prix. He explained that since they missed that running, he must review how competitors fared and estimate the necessary adjustments for the car, wing, and braking settings.
Mercedes holds a 133-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship heading into the weekend and has the opportunity to secure the title.
