Lewis Hamilton’s tough qualifying sessions this season hit another low in Mexico City, as the seven-time world champion admitted to grappling with recurring issues in his Mercedes W15 that have become almost routine. After qualifying P6 for the Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton reflected on a year marked by inconsistency and frustration, especially as his new package continues to underperform. A sudden loss of rear grip in qualifying saw him once again trailing his teammate, George Russell, despite Russell’s crash in FP1.
Reflecting on the setback, Hamilton acknowledged the regularity of his qualifying struggles this season. “I’m losing all the time,” he told reporters. “That’s why I’ve been so bad in qualifying all year. It’s a normal thing. I’m used to it.” Hamilton, 39, shared that these issues have persisted across the season, making it hard to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, a situation that’s now become almost expected.
It wasn’t all bleak going into qualifying, though. Hamilton’s practice pace showed promise, particularly in FP3, where he found comfort with the car’s setup. Confident, the team made only a minor rear wing adjustment before qualifying. Unfortunately, this tweak drastically changed the car’s balance, causing unexpected handling issues and worsening his grip in critical turns. “It was feeling good in P3,” Hamilton explained, “so we were like, let’s not touch anything. The only thing we changed was the rear wing. And, just a drastic difference [still].”
Hamilton’s issues with the car have cropped up throughout the season, with handling inconsistencies and occasional mechanical failures, a stark contrast to his previous seasons with Mercedes. Aside from a strong performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton has felt that his qualifying pace has been a weak point all year. “Every time I get to qualifying, the car is completely different,” he said with frustration. “Can’t pinpoint why, but it is what it is.”
Despite the disappointments, Hamilton remains optimistic for the 71-lap race. Starting in P6 behind his teammate, he knows the challenges won’t ease up, especially with overheating concerns and Mexico’s high altitude impacting performance. However, he’s determined to make the most of it, knowing these are his final races with Mercedes before heading to Ferrari next season. “It’s all to play for tomorrow,” he said, expressing hope to strike the right balance in race trim.
As the season winds down, Hamilton is focused on enjoying these last moments with the team he’s been with for over a decade. With five races and two sprints left, the Brit is aiming to capitalize on every opportunity, bringing his characteristic resilience to the Mexican GP.
