Lewis Hamilton emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session on Friday.
Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)
After a good showing in practice, Lewis Hamilton was disappointed with his seventh place in the qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion was four tenths behind the leader.
Once again, Mercedes failed to secure a spot on the front row this season, with George Russell qualifying in fifth place in the W15. Despite promising practices, the team was surprised by Charles Leclerc’s impressive performance, securing his third pole position in Monaco.
McLaren and Ferrari once again demonstrated their superiority over Mercedes this season, claiming the top four positions for Sunday’s race in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton now faces a challenging task, especially considering the narrow track that limits overtaking opportunities.
Hamilton: It was tough to beat George with the upgrades. My driving style hasn’t changed, but I’m struggling to improve my lap time. For some reason, we’re much closer this weekend, but still three tenths behind.
Hamilton admitted that he couldn’t beat George Russell, who qualified higher than him on the grid. He also mentioned that the car showed improvement, but still remained three tenths of a second behind. Now, Mercedes will focus on giving their best tomorrow to make the most of the advantage they felt with the car this weekend.
George Russell expressed his admiration for the team after securing fifth place in the Monaco qualifying, just three hundredths of a second behind the second-place driver. Russell raced on Saturday with a modified front wing, which proved beneficial for him.
Aunque Russell tuvo dificultades para encontrar el ritmo ideal en Q1 y Q2, logró pilotar mejor el coche en Q3 y casi aseguró el segundo lugar, siendo superado por Piastri en la última vuelta.
Mercedes históricamente tiene dificultades para encontrar un buen ritmo en Mónaco, pero George Russell espera que la reciente sesión de clasificación sea un signo positivo para el equipo. Russell ahora buscará reducir la diferencia lo máximo posible en el desafiante circuito de Mónaco, con informes de lluvia durante la carrera.
