Lewis Hamilton and George Russell begin on the third row behind Ferrari and Purple Bull in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with seven-time champion Hamilton explaining that a few points made for a tricky qualifying on Saturday.
Hamilton certified fifth and almost seven-tenths off Max Verstappen’s pole-setting tempo on Saturday at Yas Marina Circuit, and the five-time Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner mentioned that brake points plus bouncing on the straights value him in Saturday’s session.
“Yeah, we’ve had brake issues lots a lot of the 12 months. Entrance separation: so if the one is at 200 levels, the opposite one is at 700 or 800 levels [Celsius]. So, if you hit the brakes, the automobile pulls a technique. So, I used to be attempting to get the opposite one to come back up, however it was by no means equalling the opposite brake. Usually they might each be precisely the identical.
“I imagine [our race pace will be] similar to today. We are bouncing again,” he added. “I don’t know if we will be heading for a podium but if our [tyre] degradation is better, then maybe.”
Russell, who arrived in Abu Dhabi having received the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, certified sixth and simply 0.003s behind his staff mate for the season finale.
“To be honest in terms of the result, it’s probably where we expected to be,” he mentioned. “On a circuit like this, we all know we don’t have probably the most environment friendly automobile, and with these lengthy straights we’re simply getting mullered by a Purple Bull.
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“But I think we’ve got a much faster race car tomorrow, and long run pace looked pretty strong compared to Ferrari. Let’s see what tomorrow brings – but pace is maybe a little bit further away than we would’ve liked,” concluded Russell.
Mercedes are 19 factors behind Ferrari as they goal to upset the Scuderia and snatch second within the constructors’ standings on Sunday, whereas Russell is fourth within the drivers’ championship and 25 factors forward of fifth-placed Hamilton.