Mercedes introduced an updated front suspension fork at the Canadian Grand Prix to tie in with the new front wing fitted in Monaco, which featured a more conventional top element design compared to the separate, short-chord top plane that started the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The wet weather affected the two free practice sessions this Friday and, therefore, limited what the Brackley team could learn from the improvements, but they nevertheless seem to have helped to balance the W15 between the front and the rear.
Lewis Hamilton felt confident in both tests on Friday and, although he noted that it was too early to predict where Mercedes would finish, His initial feeling was that he could begin to approach the top three teams, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren.
“Honestly, it’s too early to say.” [dónde estamos]. I feel like fighting, I feel like the car is reacting to my actions and, like I said, I feel very confident out there.“said the seven-time world champion.
“But we won’t know until we go out on track on Saturday, it’s usually a different day for us and I hope tomorrow is a good day. In either condition, I felt very strong today, so I have high hopes. “I feel like we’re closer to the lead this weekend.”
After the 20-minute delay in opening the pitlane in Practice 1, Hamilton declared that He really wanted to go out on the track first, and he invited his team to give him a lot of time riding.. He added that his impatience also came because he wanted to understand resurfacing work of the Montreal track, which took place late last year, leaving the track overall much smoother.
“I felt very good. I really wanted to go out, Every second he told the boys, ‘let’s go out, let’s go out’, he hurried them, ‘let’s go, let’s go’, just to maximize time on the track.whatever the conditions.”
“This is a circuit where it’s about spending as much time as possible on the track and understand both the conditions and the changes they have made on the surface, and in some of the loopholes. “It was a really good session and the car felt strong,” he concluded.
