The Grand Prix of Las Vegas brought a breath of optimism into the house Mercedes, XNUMX Lewis Hamilton and He closed both free practice sessions on Thursday in the lead. Optimism, however, remains cautious: the positive day has not resolved all the unknowns of the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton smiles in Las Vegas: “Never had a day like this this year"
“I felt really good today,” he said. – Lewis Hamilton at the end of Thursday's free practice – It's the first time this year that I've had a car that has given me these sensations.". Despite the fastest time in the first two sessions, Hamilton acknowledged that there is still work to be done, especially to improve his race pace, which was not entirely satisfactory.
“The car was very good in FP1, in FP2 a little less so. We need to work to have a better race pace without losing speed on the single lap. It is difficult to know exactly where we are and why we are where we are, but I'm really enjoying driving on this track. We'll see if the car will still be the same tomorrow. As I said before I got here, I know it's not my driving" he added. A positive start to the weekend, then, but with a clear focus on the necessary adjustments and a dig at the unequal treatment at Mercedes.
Russell: “The car is good, but the track will change”
George too Russell contributed to Mercedes' good start to the weekend. The British driver closed the FP1 in second position and FP2 in third, showing a good level of competitiveness. “It was a positive day for us as a team. - commented - The car worked well straight away and I felt comfortable driving it”.
However, Russell also warned about possible evolutions in the performance of the other teams, especially considering that the track, still not very rubberized, will evolve as the weekend continues. “We expect the positions to change as the track improves”.
The unknown of the race pace and the work to be done
Although pace on the dry lap have been solid, Hamilton and Russell are aware that the real test will come during the race. “It's hard to know exactly where we are in relation to others” Hamilton explained, reflecting on the differences in fuel simulations and race plans between the teams. Mercedes will have to work on the balance of the car, trying to optimize the management of the tires, an element that will be even more crucial than usual in the cold temperatures of Nevada.
With qualifying just around the corner, Mercedes has already begun analyzing the data collected in free practice to further optimize the car. Despite the positive day, Hamilton is aware that other teams, such as McLaren and Ferrari, could improve their performance as the sessions progress. “We will see how the situation evolves, but I am happy with the day and I hope that the car continues to be competitive” he concluded, looking optimistically at what the weekend has in store for him and the team.
