Hamilton Urges Ferrari to Avoid 'Silly' Mistakes After Mexico GP Practice

Lewis Hamilton is urging Ferrari to exercise caution and avoid "silly decisions" as they analyze data after a "surprising" free practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix. Despite challenging low-grip conditions, Hamilton posted the fifth-fastest time in FP2, indicating a closer performance than anticipated.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's performance in practice, while not feeling optimal, showed a surprising proximity to the front-runners. Hamilton's call for careful data analysis underscores the team's critical need to extract maximum performance and avoid strategic missteps that could undermine their race weekend, especially in the unique high-altitude conditions of Mexico City.

The Details:

• FP1 Absence & FP2 Return: Hamilton sat out FP1 for Antonio Fuoco but returned for FP2, where he secured the fifth position, just 0.300 seconds behind Max Verstappen's pace-setting time.
• Low Grip Conditions: Mexico City's high altitude inherently leads to low-grip conditions. Hamilton described the grip as "lower than Monza," resulting in significant sliding.
• Initial Impressions: Despite the car's challenging feel, Hamilton was "surprised how relatively close we are." He noted that the session was "not disastrous" for Ferrari.
• Balance Issues: Hamilton highlighted a "very open" balance, indicating a need for significant work to find a more "streamlined" setup.
• Data Analysis Focus: The key now is meticulous data analysis to develop new plans for FP3. Hamilton emphasized the importance of not making the car worse and avoiding "silly" decisions.
• Race Pace Potential: While the long-run balance wasn't disastrous, Hamilton believes there's "more pace in the car" to be unlocked, particularly from the tires.

What's next:

Hamilton and the Ferrari engineers will be poring over the data to refine the car's setup ahead of Free Practice 3 and qualifying. The goal will be to optimize the balance and extract more performance from the tires without compromising the underlying strong pace observed in FP2. Careful decision-making will be paramount to capitalize on their unexpected proximity to the front.