Lewis Hamilton has promised to be “quite aggressive” from third on the grid firstly of the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix as he bids to capitalise on his finest qualifying consequence at Ferrari to realize an “amazing” first podium for the crew.
The seven-time world champion begins from the pinnacle of the second row, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Ferrari proving the closest challengers to spectacular polesitter Lando Norris, who topped qualifying by two tenths of a second on a day his two title rivals floundered.
Hamilton has skilled a difficult first season at Ferrari and heads into Sunday’s race, the marketing campaign’s twentieth spherical, but to complete a Grand Prix larger than fourth for them.
However having now returned to the highest three of qualifying for the primary time in 13 months, Hamilton believes there are lastly indicators of real progress.
“I’m so happy to be up there in the top three,” stated Hamilton after reaching his finest begin for a Grand Prix since Singapore 2024.
“All yr it has taken me to get right here so it has been a critical mountain to climb. However lastly gelling with every little thing round me and I feel myself and my engineers we’re actually beginning to extract the efficiency from the automobile, so I am actually, actually pleased.
“Honestly, it’s been a tough year, and I cant believe it’s taken me this long to get here, but it’s ok. What matters is the journey and I’ve grown a lot through it.”
Does Hamilton truly maintain finest grid spot for begin?
Whereas the spectacular Norris in the end proved too robust for Ferrari, Leclerc pipped Hamilton by 0.090s to qualify because the Scuderia’s lead automobile in second place.
Nonetheless, Hamilton feels he stands out as the Ferrari driver holding the extra preferable grid slot on row two.
That’s as a result of third is situated on the grid’s left-hand facet, the cleaner racing line, and the truth that, at 830m, the run to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez’s first flip is likely one of the longest of the season and due to this fact permits slipstreaming alternatives for following automobiles.
The polesitter has not led the primary lap in Mexico in every of the final two years, whereas Max Verstappen famously sling-shotted from third on the grid to first forward of Hamilton after which Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas firstly in 2021.
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The primary lap from an eventful 2024 Mexico Metropolis GP as Max Verstappen takes the lead and Yuki Tsunoda crashes out.
Hamilton stated: “For a moment I was P2 [on the grid] but the inside is actually not that nice, it’s quite dirty on the inside, so I’m quite grateful to be third and I hope that I can capitalise on that.
“Clearly, Charles has a brand new [soft] tyre, the identical with Lando, however nonetheless P3 I feel is just not a nasty place to start out right here as a result of you possibly can tow. So I will be fairly aggressive, I need to transfer forwards by some means tomorrow.”
Speaking in the press conference, Hamilton added: “I undoubtedly need to be racy.
“I don’t have anything to lose, but he [Norris] does. So I will be quite aggressive, I’m pretty sure.
“And hopefully we’ll be shut sufficient to place up combat.”
And whereas conscious of the potential pitfalls of beginning on the grid’s soiled facet, Leclerc can be concentrating on an aggressive begin given he expects Norris to even have robust race tempo.
“I think [Norris] will be very strong, for sure,” stated Leclerc.
“But the start is definitely an opportunity for us to try and make something special.
“Although beginning second right here on the soiled facet of the monitor, I am unsure it is nice, nevertheless it’s okay.
“I’ll just focus on what I can control and hopefully it will be enough to be alongside him into Turn One.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Mexico Metropolis GP schedule
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Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix
Sunday October 26
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico Metropolis GP build-up*
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico Metropolis GP response
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion
System 1’s thrilling title race heads continues on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 8pm, reside on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Major Occasion. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
