Lewis Hamilton says his robust pursuit of a primary podium of the season ultimately week’s Spanish Grand Prix underlined the “hearth” he nonetheless has and vowed to “maintain it burning” as Mercedes tries to proceed its latest revival.
After enduring a disappointing third in his closing season at Mercedes, Hamilton lastly returned to the Components One podium on Sunday for the primary time since October final 12 months in a race in Barcelona that included spectacular overtakes by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Silver Arrows team-mate George Russell.
4 days in the past in Austria, getting ready for the dash format on the Crimson Bull Ring this weekend, Hamilton stated, reflecting on Barcelona: “It is good to have races like this.
“Typically you do not have a race the place you stick your elbows out and do some actually enjoyable and difficult overtaking, however for me it was plenty of enjoyable.
“Barcelona all the time places on a very good race and has been robust for me through the years. All of us want good days like this in our lives simply to remind us that she nonetheless exists.
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Watch the 360 on-board digital camera as Lewis Hamilton overtook Carlos Sainz to complete sixth on the Spanish Grand Prix.
“The fireplace is unquestionably there and you must maintain feeding it and retaining it going.”
Hamilton’s return to the rostrum got here a day after he overtook Russell for simply the second time in 10 races this season and first since April’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Requested in regards to the work that went into understanding why he struggled on Saturday, Hamilton stated: “An enormous quantity of study. I requested the group for lots of details about how we are able to enhance and what we lack.
“It is simply with the tires, so we simply maintain enhancing our processes from session to session. Particularly, when you get to the qualifying stuff that must be tweaked a bit, the automobile is clearly lighter and also you’re in DRS much more.
“However time will inform. I believe we have cracked one thing, now now we have to attempt to construct on that.”
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Lewis Hamilton is third behind teammate George Russell on the Spanish Grand Prix.
Can Mercedes keep within the lead in Austria?
Hamilton’s third place end in Spain adopted Russell’s first podium end for the group in 2024 on the earlier race in Canada, which additionally noticed the youthful Briton take his first pole place of the 12 months.
Mercedes, who’ve outscored Ferrari within the final two occasions however completed behind Crimson Bull and McLaren, have made a lot of intelligent upgrades to their W15 machine in latest races to efficiently shut the hole on the entrance of the sector.
“Possibly the entire group, not essentially on high, however there’s plenty of power within the group and we lastly have the route we have to go,” added Hamilton.
“The folks on the manufacturing unit positively have a spring of their step and it is positively good for me to get again right into a aggressive place.
“I simply wish to get on with it, however we positively do not wish to get forward of ourselves.”
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George Russell says it is good to see Land Norris on high preventing for wins, however joked he hopes it “does not final lengthy”.
Buoyed by this latest enchancment, Mercedes will likely be chasing a 3rd podium in Austria this weekend – a streak they final managed in 2022.
“The group has achieved an excellent job of implementing these developments sooner than anticipated in a easy movement reasonably than one huge improve in a single race,” stated Russell.
“Clearly the automobile has taken a giant step ahead, however we nonetheless want a bit extra if we wish to be on this combat week after week.
“In the long run, we had two races with the entire package deal, one in every of which we may have gained (Canada) and we most likely had the quickest automobile, and one (Spain) we have been third quickest and Lewis was on grandstand,
“It is also a pure fluctuation within the efficiency of the automobile, so let’s examine what the subsequent two races carry. However we positively made a very good step.”
Russell added: “Coming right here [it’s] once more a very completely different scheme. I believe Ferrari will most likely be fairly aggressive, they have been superb right here the final couple of years, however we’re very comfortable to get again into the combo.
“We all know McLaren and Crimson Bull are nonetheless a bit forward of us, however it’s fluctuating rapidly. We noticed in Montreal that we’re most likely probably the most aggressive, so let’s examine what this weekend brings.”
Sky Sports activities F1 – reside schedule of the Austrian Grand Prix
Thursday, June 27
12.30: drivers’ press convention
Friday, June 28
7.50am: Practiced F3
9am: Apply F2
11:00: first observe of the Austrian Grand Prix (session begins at 11:30)
12.55pm: F3 qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
15:00: Dash Qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix (session begins at 15:30)*
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Have a look again at among the most dramatic moments in recent times on the Austrian Grand Prix.
Saturday, June 29
8.25am: F3 dash
10:00: Dash on the Austrian Grand Prix (race begin at 11:00)*
12.25pm: F2 dash
14:00: Preparation for qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix
15:00: Austrian Grand Prix qualifying
5:00 p.m.: Ted’s choice pocket book
Sunday, June 30
7.25am: F3 particular race
8.55am: F2 particular race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian Grand Prix build-up*
14:00: AUSTRIA GRAND PRIX*
16:00: Checkered flag: Austrian GP response*
5:00 p.m.: Ted’s pocket book
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion
F1’s triple battle continues subsequent week on the Austrian Grand Prix, with the dash format returning to the Crimson Bull Ring. Watch each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1, with the large race on Sunday at 2pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime
