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Lewis Hamilton Aims to Dodge Costly Ferrari Mistake After Mexico Practice Shock
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Highlights
- Hamilton missed FP1; Antonio Fuoco drove instead.
- Hamilton was fifth fastest in FP2, 0.3 seconds behind Verstappen.
- High altitude caused low grip, complicating car setup for teams.
- Hamilton called conditions tough, car felt loose and unstable.
- Ferrari aims to avoid “silly” changes before next sessions.
- Focus on tyre management and balance critical for upcoming sessions.
Lewis Hamilton returned for FP2 at the Mexican Grand Prix after sitting out FP1, with Antonio Fuoco deputising. He placed fifth, 0.300s off Max Verstappen at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Mexico City’s altitude reduces air density, cutting downforce and cooling, and leaving the surface low grip. That combination complicated Ferrari’s baseline and revealed a few setup surprises.
Hamilton called the session tougher than expected. The car slid and felt less stable than at other venues, including Monza, though he judged it “not disastrous” for Ferrari.
Ferrari chased balance on the low-grip surface. With wings less effective in thin air, the car demanded a careful trade-off between downforce level, ride height, and mechanical grip.
Hamilton finished FP2 in P5, three-tenths behind Verstappen, despite missing FP1 running.
Hamilton urged restraint on overnight changes, warning against “silly” adjustments that risk masking problems. Ferrari plans a data-led review before committing to direction for FP3.
“We can’t afford any silly changes overnight,” Hamilton cautioned.
Long-run pace and tyre behaviour remain the priorities. Degradation trends appeared inconsistent, and Ferrari believes a cleaner balance could unlock both stint length and confidence.
Red Bull sets the reference on single-lap pace. Ferrari’s aim is to contain the deficit while building race-day robustness, avoiding over-corrections as the track rubbers in.
Hamilton reported instability through the fast esses and under braking, typical Mexico traits. Managing brake temperatures and rear stability will be central to any setup refinement.
Antonio Fuoco handled FP1 duties, providing Ferrari with early correlation data.
The next step is incremental progress. If Ferrari stabilises the platform and protects the tyres, Hamilton expects the car to offer more, particularly over longer runs.
Visual Summary
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
