Lewis Hamilton believes that Mercedes is much closer to competing at the front of the Formula 1 pack after Friday’s practice session in Imola. The team has introduced updates to the W15 car for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which seems to be performing well in Italy. Hamilton ended Friday with the fourth fastest time in FP2, less than four tenths behind Charles Leclerc. While other teams like McLaren and Ferrari also seem fast, Hamilton believes that Mercedes has made significant progress compared to earlier this season. However, he remains cautious and wants to see how Saturday’s session unfolds.
Mercedes has been working hard to close the gap to teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the factory team for their efforts in bringing these updates. He believes that the car is showing improvements and that its performance on track is reflecting that.
Saturday’s session will determine whether Mercedes has truly progressed or if Friday’s pace was an anomaly. Regardless, Trackside Engineering Director Andre Shovlin acknowledged that Mercedes aims to keep improving throughout the season. While the updates have been encouraging, they are aware of the significant gap that needs to be reduced. The team is focused on finding additional speed and enhancing both performance in a single lap and in long races. They will continue working hard to gradually close the gap in the upcoming events.
