Lewis Hamilton says he’s having fun with the racing battles he’s having however that ending ninth within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is “undoubtedly not enjoyable” as Mercedes struggles for efficiency.
Each Mercedes drivers have spoken extra positively concerning the 2024 automotive than both of its predecessors, however might solely line up side-by-side on the fourth row in Jeddah, with George Russell occurring to complete sixth and Hamilton restricted to ninth after being one of many few drivers to not make a pit cease beneath the early security automotive. Regardless of his frustrations on the outcomes, Hamilton believes there’s nonetheless potential for Mercedes to unlock.
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“I wouldn’t say I’m having enjoyable,” Hamilton mentioned. “I’m racing for ninth, I can’t say that … ending ninth is certainly not enjoyable. I’m having fun with the precise racing half and I used to be looking and I used to be pushing as a lot as I might. I used to be maximizing every thing I had with the automotive, was proper on the sting however sadly simply actually missing efficiency within the excessive velocity the place [McLaren] have been throughout us.
“However there are positives — the automotive is nice in low velocity, now we have obtained some areas that now we have so as to add a variety of load within the excessive velocity. I believe if we’re ready to try this then I believe it places us within the struggle.”
It was the same story for Russell, who did observe the extra widespread technique of becoming arduous tires early on and operating to the top, however was unable to get shut sufficient to Fernando Alonso to struggle for fifth place.
“We’re nonetheless actually attempting to know this automotive as a result of now we have proven true efficiency at factors during the last two weekends,” Russell mentioned. “FP1 straight out of the field we have been prime of the timesheets and at all times within the prime three. FP2, P2, after which each weekends the tempo has simply fallen away from us.
“And that hasn’t been our opponents getting sooner, that’s been us getting slower. So we have to perceive why that’s, nevertheless it’s wonderful margins now. It’s so shut between ourselves, McLaren and Aston, and Charles [Leclerc] is only a smidge forward, we simply have to faucet right into a bit extra.”
One space that Mercedes has been struggling is with bouncing, however Russell believes there are additionally different points that the crew must get on prime of.
“I believe there’s extra to it — it’s so complicated lately. These automobiles are so difficult, couple that with the tires — the tires are very tough as properly — and proper now we don’t have the solutions.”
