The opening of the 2024 Formula 1 season continues the trend of a significant difference in qualifying positions between Mercedes drivers, whether in favor of Lewis Hamilton or George Russell. Although the actual difference was only a few tenths, this resulted in Hamilton starting ninth on the Bahrain GP grid, while Russell secured third place. This difference has been attributed to the setup of the Mercedes car, with one driver consistently finding the right balance while the other struggles with the car’s limitations. However, the debut of the W15 showed some differences in the setup, and the response from the driver and team indicates a change compared to previous years.
Both Hamilton and Russell were able to find a good setup for single-lap performance after Thursday’s practice sessions. They finished FP2 in first and second place, although there were some caveats. Overall, they were satisfied with the improvements Mercedes made during the winter, describing it as a big breakthrough and a more enjoyable car to drive. Despite his poor qualifying result, Hamilton remains excited about the new Mercedes, stating that it finally feels like a racing car again. He praised Russell for being only three tenths behind Max Verstappen’s pace.
Hamilton explained that he and Russell had identical setups the day before, but made different choices that affected their qualifying performance. While Russell’s setup worked well for a single lap, Hamilton made changes to improve his race pace. He acknowledged that finding the right balance is crucial for the race. Hamilton praised Russell’s third place qualifying as a testament to the team’s efforts in providing a competitive car. However, he mentioned a specific change in the setup, believing it to be a mechanical adjustment, that negatively affected his performance.
Hamilton admitted that he sacrificed some single-lap performance in favor of better race pace. He expressed hope that this compromise would pay off in the race. He acknowledged that it would be challenging to overtake the faster cars ahead of him. Russell, on the other hand, seemed concerned that his setup direction could impact his race pace. The team intentionally configured the car for the race, aiming to find an optimal balance between qualifying and race performance. Team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged that the setup changes contributed to the drop in performance but believed they were still in a good position to start the race.
There were also indications that the change in track conditions on Friday compared to Thursday affected Mercedes’ performance. Andrew Shovlin, trackside engineering director, noted that it was more challenging to extract lap time from the car during qualifying. Russell expressed some uncertainty about how the setup changes would affect his race pace, hoping that the improvements in qualifying wouldn’t hinder his performance in the race.
Despite the performance difference between the drivers, Mercedes remains confident in the capabilities of the W15. They believe it offers a better platform to chase down Red Bull for the rest of the season. The team is not discouraged by the performance differences between the drivers that have haunted them in the past and does not see it as a return to erratic performance from one track to another.
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Dramatic events in the world of sports leave everyone speechless. A shocking turn of events occurred during the football match between rival teams X and Y. The game, which promised to be a fierce competition, ended up turning into complete chaos.
During the first minutes of the match, the star player of team X suffered a serious injury. The impact was so strong that he had to be immediately taken to the hospital. The medical team is working to determine the exact extent of the injury, but preliminary information indicates that he will be out of the game for several weeks.
Meanwhile, team Y took the opportunity to score a goal. The crowd went wild with the play and began celebrating enthusiastically. However, the joy was short-lived. A few minutes later, team X managed to equalize the game with an incredible goal.
The atmosphere in the stadium became increasingly tense as the game unfolded. The players from both teams were determined to win, leading to a series of violent plays. The referee had difficulty controlling the situation and ended up showing several yellow and red cards.
At the end of the game, the score was tied 1-1. Despite the attempts of both teams, neither of them managed to score the winning goal. The players left the field exhausted and frustrated with the result.
Now, the teams will have to prepare for the next confrontation. It will be an opportunity for redemption for both teams, who are determined to achieve victory. Fans are eager to see what will happen in the next match and hope for an exciting and fair game.
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