Hamilton 'Praying' After Ferrari Power Unit Failure in Mexico FP2

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari power unit failed in second practice for the Mexico Grand Prix, forcing him to stop on track and leaving him 'praying' for reliability. The seven-time champion had been competitive but missed the long-run simulation, while teammate Charles Leclerc topped both Friday sessions.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's power unit failure is a major concern for Ferrari, as reliability issues can derail a promising weekend. The team showed strong pace with Leclerc's double session-topping performance, but Hamilton's missed long run and limited FP1 running leave him on the back foot. With overtaking notoriously difficult at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, grid position is crucial. Hamilton believes the car has front-row potential but needs a clean qualifying.

The details:

• Hamilton lost power down the start-finish straight after 28 minutes in FP2, stopping at Turn 3.
• He was quickest on the hard tyre and sat in the top five before dropping to 11th.
• Ferrari is investigating the cause; Hamilton said he felt good in the car and the set-up was improved.
• He completed just 25 laps in FP1 due to aero rake testing, while most teams ran rookie drivers. Ferrari was the only team not to field a young driver in FP1.
• Hamilton: 'I'll give it everything tomorrow... it feels like we could be close to competing for the front row.'

What's next:

Ferrari must diagnose the power unit issue before FP3 and qualifying on Saturday. If the problem is resolved, Hamilton's raw pace suggests he could challenge for a strong grid position. However, the limited running and reliability uncertainty add pressure. Leclerc's form provides a benchmark, but Ferrari's weekend hinges on ensuring both cars finish.