Mercedes drivers used different tactics in qualifying on the Canadian circuit – George Russell risked switching to slicks, although there was still quite a bit of water on the track, but this risk did not materialize. Lewis Hamilton’s approach was more traditional and he finished qualifying with his best result of the season.
George Russell (8th): “Whoever takes the risk is lucky! If Turn 1 had been as dry as the other turns we would have been in a higher position. I was surprised that I still rode a circle only half a second worse than Lewis. Overall, we were able to set a good pace today.
In any case, we could only count on the 4th, 5th or 6th result, so we had to take a risk and do something. I’m glad we did it, but tomorrow we’ll fight for the points.
Still, I have to admit that when I switched to slicks, there was still too much water on the track and not enough grip. But last year in Sochi we decided to take a gamble: we were one of the few to switch to slicks, and riding Williams I showed the 3rd result.
I was thinking about it today, but if we hadn’t taken risks, this qualifying could have been the worst this year. I knew that if I put on slicks I would either win pole position or it would end the way it was.”
Lewis Hamilton (4th): “I’m in a good mood, to be honest! Never before have I been so happy with the 4th result. If only in my debut season in 2007, when I set the 4th fastest time in qualifying in the very first race .
But this season is going to be very difficult for us and the conditions we had to play in today were difficult for everyone. That’s why I’m so happy with this result, because the whole team is working hard to somehow correct the car’s shortcomings.
Yesterday my partner and I set up the machines very differently so that the team gathered more information and George’s approach proved to be more effective. That’s why I didn’t like the behavior of the car on track today, but I think tomorrow everything will be better. I hope I at least manage to hold on to fourth place.
On this track it is very important to find the right rhythm, especially in qualifying. But this machine has a very special character, so the rhythm needs a special character, and it was very difficult for me to get used to. But thanks to the rain, there were opportunities today, as always, and besides, I like this track!”
Source: F1 News
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