Hamilton Seeks Stability in Mercedes Rear-End Amid Saudi Arabian GP Struggles
Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging day during practice sessions at the Jeddah circuit for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as he grappled with rear-end grip issues in his Mercedes W15 machine.
The seven-time champion found himself in the eighth-fastest position in both Thursday sessions, trailing nearly half a second behind teammate George Russell during the second hour of practice.
Throughout the day’s running, Hamilton repeatedly voiced concerns about the lack of rear grip, a crucial factor in maintaining control and confidence, especially in high-speed sections of the track.
“It was a difficult day, and I was just lacking confidence in the rear of the car,” Hamilton explained.”
“We did some work session to session, and changed the car quite a bit, but the underlying issue with the rear-end [remained], so I was struggling quite a bit.”
“I had a couple of really big moments out there – and in these high-speed you need to have full faith in the rear of the car, and I just don’t have that yet.”
Diverging on setups with Russell, Hamilton endeavored to find a solution to his car’s handling woes. However, despite adjustments made session after session, the underlying issue persisted.
Hamilton elaborated on his struggles, expressing the necessity of having full confidence in the rear of the car, particularly in high-speed situations. He recounted experiencing unsettling moments on the track, emphasizing the need for stability in the rear-end setup.
Despite efforts to address the issue through data analysis and setup adjustments, Hamilton acknowledged Russell’s notably better performance and expressed his desire for a stable rear-end setup that would instill confidence in his driving.
“We are going to have to go through the data and stuff, but George is obviously a lot happier with his car.”
“We went in different directions to try different things to try and find the right solution for the car, but all I want is a stable rear – and then I will be happy.”
As Mercedes works to dissect the data and fine-tune the setup ahead of qualifying and the race, Hamilton remains focused on rectifying the handling issues to mount a competitive challenge in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
