Lewis Hamilton is hopeful that his on-track battle with teammate George Russell in the Mexico City Grand Prix will provide Mercedes with valuable insights to guide future upgrades. With both drivers racing closely for much of Sunday’s Grand Prix, Hamilton believes the data gathered could help Mercedes better understand its current package, especially following mixed results from recent upgrades.
Mercedes introduced a new floor at the United States Grand Prix, but both drivers expressed concerns about the performance. While Russell ran the upgraded W15 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Hamilton stuck with the previous setup after experiencing issues in Austin. The two ran nose-to-tail throughout the Mexican GP, with Hamilton ultimately taking the upper hand, allowing both drivers to observe the strengths and weaknesses of each car.
“We got a lot of information,” Hamilton said. “I could see where George was better, and I’m sure he saw where I had the advantage. Hopefully, the team has enough data to make the right decisions for the next race.”
Mercedes has faced challenges assessing its recent upgrades, with a complex weekend in Austin followed by Ferrari and McLaren outpacing them in Mexico. Both Hamilton and Russell started side-by-side on the third row in Mexico, with Hamilton gaining the initial advantage at lights out. Russell reclaimed his position briefly but later fell behind due to front-wing damage after his pit stop, allowing Hamilton to retake the lead and secure the team’s top spot for the weekend.
“I had fun today,” Hamilton said. “The first stint was tough with massive understeer, but after my stop, I could push harder, and that’s when I started to catch up.”
Russell echoed the excitement, calling their duel “hard and fair.” The 25-year-old added, “It’s always good when you’re fighting with Lewis. He’s smart with his moves, and we know we can race cleanly.”
Mercedes continues to allow its drivers to race freely, confident that Hamilton and Russell are capable of handling the competition with mutual respect. Hamilton credited the team’s trust in their racecraft: “I don’t think either of us are silly. George is really smart and fair, and so am I. When they tell us to keep it clean, it’s like, of course.”
With only a few races remaining, Mercedes looks to translate the insights from this battle into a more competitive package for the 2025 season.
