Talking in regards to the 0.078 seconds hole between them as they lined up fifth and seventh, Hamilton was wanting to counsel that he by no means had any reasonable probability of beating Russell due to their different-specification vehicles.
“The group have labored actually arduous again on the manufacturing unit to deliver an improve within the final two races and likewise an improve this weekend – however we solely had one, which George has,” he informed Sky. “I anticipated it could be troublesome to outqualify George as a result of he has the upgraded part.
“As soon as we get to qualifying, I do not perceive. I already know robotically that I will lose two tenths going into qualifying.
“That is undoubtedly irritating and it is one thing that I do not actually have a solution for in the mean time. I am not driving any completely different. The laps are actually nice. Simply, I do not know.”
Hamilton went on to counsel that he didn’t count on to ever outqualify Russell once more this season, after which later informed the written media that he didn’t know what was occurring to his automotive on Saturdays.
“Because the begin of qualifying, it is like… I do not know if it is a turn-down or one thing of efficiency,” he mentioned. “However efficiency comes away from my automotive, for some cause. So, a bit irritating that we’re solely seventh.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
Hamilton’s remarks could possibly be interpreted as a touch that issues weren’t completely equal at Mercedes – and even perhaps that Russell was being given preferential therapy as a result of he’s the one who had the wing.
In spite of everything, Russell is remaining with the group subsequent 12 months whereas Hamilton has already determined to maneuver on and be a part of Ferrari.
Nonetheless, the truth of how Mercedes selected which driver ran the wing was not a matter of choosing one over the opposite.
As a substitute, Motorsport.com understands that, with the group conscious it could have just one model of the wing, the choice of working the brand new wing was given to each drivers. And it emerged that Hamilton made clear that he most popular to not go together with it.
Firstly, there was the will to have a extra steady platform all through follow and qualifying so he may construct up his confidence across the observe – reasonably than danger switching round configurations.
Plus, with the brand new wing being a special specification to the model run thus far this season, there was an added danger from heading into qualifying with no spare.
With parc ferme guidelines in place, if the wing had been broken in an incident, then a swap to revert to the opposite specification would have meant a breach of those laws – and a pitlane begin.
Whereas Hamilton could have been a bit annoyed by understanding that he had a little bit of a drawback this weekend, the group is no less than positive issues will likely be completely equal subsequent trip in Canada.
As Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin mentioned: “We’ll have that on each vehicles for the following race in Montreal.”
