After an incredible turnaround, Lewis Hamilton has brought attention to Mercedes’s difficult task of managing its tyre temperatures in the Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes struggled in practice, with Hamilton and George Russell citing understeer and traction problems at Marina Bay. However, the W15 found some speed in the second qualifying round, with Hamilton finishing third to Russell’s fourth.
Both drivers are now well-positioned to profit from any misfortune that may befall Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in the front row, but Hamilton is cautious about any sharp change in the course conditions that would force the vehicle outside of its limited operating window.
He told the media, including RacingNews365, “We have to anticipate a different balance [in the race] compared to the past every other session.”
“I believe the main focus here is going to be on controlling tire temperature, so that will be crucial, as well as doing everything in our power to essentially keep the heat out of the backs.”
“We’ll find out [in the race], but hopefully in trying to do that, we can hang on to at least one of these guys [Norris and Verstappen].”
“I feel confident, though, that we might be able to do that.”
“My lap wasn’t particularly noteworthy either; I had a lot of snaps since it was so challenging to get the tires just right without going overslipping.
“I don’t know if we could have defeated [Norris], but we might have been in the first row with him if we had done a better job.
“We ran a so-so long run pace. Not even close to these folks, or the McLarens. However, we’ve moved the car to a whole new window now.
