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Talking earlier than being disqualified in Austin, Lewis Hamilton instructed Sky F1 why he was happy with the upgrades Mercedes dropped at their automobile.
Talking earlier than being disqualified in Austin, Lewis Hamilton instructed Sky F1 why he was happy with the upgrades Mercedes dropped at their automobile.
Lewis Hamilton’s charging drive behind Max Verstappen in the USA GP might not in the end go down within the file books after his post-race exclusion, however the improved efficiency following a automobile improve has nonetheless raised expectations about what Mercedes might obtain within the races that stay this season – and even perhaps 2024 too.
Had it not been for a method miscue and slower pit stops than their chief rivals on the Circuit of the Americas final Sunday, Hamilton believed Mercedes might have doubtlessly gained the race, or not less than run Verstappen even more durable, as a substitute of crossing the road a detailed second behind his Purple Bull rival.
Talking on the finish of the race earlier than his automobile was discovered to be in breach of the technical laws because of extreme plank put on, Hamilton mentioned that he was feeling “actually optimistic” about Mercedes’ path following an improve to the W14’s flooring and “extremely grateful” for the work undertaken by the Mercedes group because it was “good to lastly see the rewards of their laborious work and really feel it within the automobile as effectively”.
“Really feel actually optimistic as a result of we have nonetheless received just a few races up forward,” mentioned Hamilton forward of this weekend’s Mexico Metropolis GP, the primary of 2023’s closing 4 occasions in 5 weeks.
“I do not know the way the automobile’s going to be in these subsequent races but when we’re able like this and we get the technique proper and we get the pit-stop proper, possibly we’ll be proper on their tails and some good racing.
“So I am excited.”
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Journey onboard as Lewis Hamilton finally will get previous Lando Norris after a superb tussle for second on the Circuit of the Americas.
Journey onboard as Lewis Hamilton finally will get previous Lando Norris after a superb tussle for second on the Circuit of the Americas.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities F1, he added: “We have to decide up on a few of the areas, like our pit stops weren’t spectacular this weekend and technique, for the subsequent races. Perhaps we could be nearer to those [Red Bull] guys.
“It is proper there. Simply there.”
Hamilton on why Mercedes’ 2024 activity continues to be an enormous one | ‘For them to nonetheless be profitable races continues to be actually spectacular’
The seven-time champion – who achieved the newest of his file 103 victories on the Saudi Arabian GP in December 2021, 42 races in the past – although shouldn’t be being lulled into any false sense of safety by the obvious closing hole simply but.
Stating that runaway champions Purple Bull, not like Mercedes and different groups, had not wanted to improve their automobile to any nice extent in current months and but had been nonetheless profitable, Hamilton added: “He [Verstappen] began sixth and was out in entrance so in the end I feel they had been faster.
“He stopped earlier than all people as effectively and was nonetheless punching good occasions on the finish. So that they nonetheless are forward and will likely be very, very troublesome to beat – they usually’re not creating proper now.
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Highlights from the USA Grand Prix on the Circuit of the Americas.
Highlights from the USA Grand Prix on the Circuit of the Americas.
“We’re introduced upgrades and they’re simply chilling on what they’d already. So for them to nonetheless be profitable races continues to be actually spectacular and we have nonetheless received an enormous quantity of labor to do.
“Not solely in downforce and automobile efficiency but in addition operations simply to be somewhat bit extra good. Qualifying’s actually good, however race we are able to perform a little bit higher possibly.”
The Singapore GP in September stays the one one in every of 2023’s hitherto 18 grands prix that Purple Bull haven’t gained.
Certainly, since that aberration for the in any other case all-conquering RB19 on the streets of the Marina Bay circuit, Verstappen has racked up three victories in a row and will likely be favorite once more in Mexico Metropolis this weekend.
Hamilton’s remark about Purple Bull’s improvement was confirmed by Christian Horner earlier within the Austin weekend.
“We had a small replace in Singapore however due to the shortage of wind tunnel time that we’ve got we have clearly targeted loads on to subsequent 12 months’s automobile at a related stage,” Horner, Purple Bull’s group principal, instructed Sky F1.
“It is all about optimising what we’ve got now between now and the top of the 12 months.”
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Former F1 efficiency engineer Blake Hinsey explains the technical infringement that resulted in Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being disqualified from the US Grand Prix.
Former F1 efficiency engineer Blake Hinsey explains the technical infringement that resulted in Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being disqualified from the US Grand Prix.
However Horner did predict: “It should occur [the field closing up]. When you’ve got secure laws the automobiles and the groups will converge. So I feel this can be a precursor to what we’ll see subsequent 12 months the place it is a a lot tighter area.”
Verstappen on reaching 50 wins: ‘Nonetheless rookie numbers in comparison with Lewis!’
With Hamilton caught on his file 103 wins and 7 world titles with Mercedes nonetheless seeking to ship a solution to Purple Bull within the present guidelines period, Verstappen has been the driving force on the transfer in F1’s statistical tables over the previous two years.
Victory within the USA introduced up his fiftieth in F1, the fifth driver to succeed in that landmark.
Solely Michael Schumacher (91 wins general) reached his half-century faster than Verstappen.
Who was quickest to 50 victories?
Driver Race begins to 50 wins Michael Schumacher 153 Max Verstappen 181 Lewis Hamilton 185 Alain Prost 192 Sebastian Vettel 205
Forty of the Dutchman’s wins have come within the 62 grands prix which have taken place for the reason that begin of 2021, when Purple Bull first re-emerged as championship challengers.
“Nonetheless rookie numbers in comparison with Lewis!” mentioned a smiling Verstappen, whereas sitting subsequent to Hamilton in final Sunday’s post-race press convention.
Assessing Max Verstappen’s 10 greatest wins in F1 to date
“However for certain it is an excellent quantity and I am very proud of it, very pleased with it. However let’s attempt to win just a few extra.”
With 4 races left in 2023, Verstappen nonetheless has time to maneuver previous the profession tallies of Alain Prost (51) and Sebastian Vettel (53) earlier than the marketing campaign is out.
Another win would additionally see the 26-year-old break his personal all-time file of 15 in a single season, which he set final 12 months.
Purple Bull, in the meantime, must win not less than three of the 4 that stay to interrupt Mercedes’ file of 19 wins in a season from 2016.
Essentially the most wins in an F1 season
Driver Wins (season) Ratio (whole GPs) 1 = Max Verstappen 15 (2022) 68.2% (22) 1 = Max Verstappen 15 (2023) 83.3% (18)* 3 = Michael Schumacher 13 (2004) 72.2% (18) 3 = Sebastian Vettel 13 (2013) 68.4% (19) 5 = Michael Schumacher 11 (2002) 64.7% (17) 5 = Sebastian Vettel 11 (2011) 57.9% (19) 5 = Lewis Hamilton 11 (2014) 57.9% (19) 5 = Lewis Hamilton 11 (2018) 52.4% (21) 5 = Lewis Hamilton 11 (2019) 52.4% (21) 5 = Lewis Hamilton 11 (2020) 64.7% (17) Staff Wins (season) Ratio (whole GPs) 1. Mercedes 19 (2016) 90.5% (21) 2 = Purple Bull 17 (2022) 77.3% (22) 2 = Purple Bull 17 (2023) 94.4% (18)* 4 = Mercedes 16 (2014) 84.2% (19) 4 = Mercedes 16 (2015) 84.2% (19) 6 = McLaren 15 (1988) 93.8% (16) 6 = Ferrari 15 (2002) 88.2% (17) 6 = Ferrari 15 (2004) 83.3% (18) 6 = Mercedes 15 (2019) 71.4% (21) * 4 races left in 2023 When to look at the Mexico Metropolis GP reside solely on Sky Sports activities F1
Thursday 26 October
9pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
Friday 27 October
7pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Observe One
8:45pm: The F1 Present
10:45pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Observe Two (additionally on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion)
Saturday 28 October
6.15pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Observe Three
9pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Qualifying build-up (additionally on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion)
10pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Qualifying (additionally on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion)
Sunday 29 October
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Mexico Metropolis GP build-up (additionally on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion)
8pm: The MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX (additionally on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion)
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico Metropolis GP
F1 heads straight to Mexico for the center leg of the Americas triple header. Watch the entire Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix weekend reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from Friday, with Sunday’s race at 8pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports activities with NOW