Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes are “just a bit lost” with their automobile after a “very challenging” begin to the Singapore GP weekend which has left him involved about whether or not they are going to make the grid’s prime 10 in qualifying on Saturday.
With Mercedes aiming to hit again on the streets of Marina Bay following a troublesome Baku relative to the front-runners final week, when Hamilton specifically endured a tricky weekend after an engine penalty left him beginning the race behind the sector, the crew’s drivers each struggled with a misbehaving W15 on Friday.
Hamilton completed each periods outdoors of the highest 10 and whereas team-mate George Russell fared slightly higher within the extra consultant floodlit operating to take seventh, his Apply Two ended with a late crash into the obstacles.
“The car feels very difficult. A very challenging day,” mentioned Hamilton after ending eleventh quickest and 0.982s off the tempo set by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
“We tried all the things set-up smart and nothing appears to work with the set-up. Undoubtedly very difficult.
“We are giving it everything then you find out you are a second off. Ultimately, just a bit lost. Not really sure where to put the car.”
Requested about whether or not set-up modifications made to the automobile between the 2 apply periods had made any distinction, Hamilton replied: “No. We tried a lot and achieved the same thing.”
And on the proof of Friday’s kind with out enchancment, Hamilton predicted: “At the moment we won’t be going into Q3.”
Russell: Now we have quite a lot of work on our arms
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Russell drives nostril first into the obstacles throughout P2 however manages to return to the pits on the Singapore GP
Though he might have completed barely nearer to the entrance, Russell reported related points and issues to Hamilton on the finish of the session.
Requested concerning the crash within the closing moments of P2 which noticed him nostril the barrier and injury the entrance of his automobile at Flip Eight, Russell mentioned: “Not a lot to say, really. Locked up, took the front wing off.
“It was a extremely difficult Friday for us.
“We were really off the pace; we need to understand why that is. I’m sure we’ll find some answers.
“We’ve made some big changes from FP1 into FP2 but the car’s just not really feeling that well connected as it was this time 12 months ago and in recent races, so we need to try and get to the bottom of it.”
Though Mercedes did outpace struggling Crimson Bull, they themselves completed behind each RB vehicles – the crew which proved the day’s shock bundle – whereas the hole to the lead McLaren and Ferrari vehicles was massive.
“There are a lot of surprises out there,” mentioned Russell, who crashed out late on whereas chasing victory in final yr’s Singapore race after qualifying on the entrance row.
“The VCARB [RB] is really quick, the Williams is really quick. The Red Bulls seem to be off the pace.
“There appears to be a giant hole to the McLarens and the Ferraris so at the least we hope to be between that midfield hole and the entrance 4. However proper now we now have bought quite a lot of work on our arms.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Singapore GP schedule
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Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Singapore Grand Prix
Saturday September 21
8am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Singapore GP Apply Three (session begins 10.30am)
1pm: Singapore GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: SINGAPORE GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday September 22
8.30am: F1 Academy Race Two
11:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: The SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP response
4pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion
System 1’s thrilling 2024 season continues reside on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend with extra beautiful avenue circuit motion, this time below the lights on the Singapore Grand Prix. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
