Dakar Rally News: Mercedes Drivers Battle for Slipstream in Qualifying
Barcelona, Spain – In the intense qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton found themselves vying for the same slipstream strategy.
The drama unfolded on the first run in the final Q3 shoot-out, as Russell was behind Hamilton on their preparation laps. Both drivers were keeping a close eye on the approaching Alpine of Esteban Ocon, who was on a flying lap.
Russell was careful not to impede Ocon in the final sector, ensuring he could catch the Alpine’s valuable draft as he turned onto Barcelona’s long main straight. However, ahead of him, Hamilton had the same idea, timing his move to let Ocon pass without compromising his own exit speed too much.
“What the f*** was Lewis doing prepping that lap?”
Understandably, Russell expressed his frustration over the team radio, asking, “What the f*** was Lewis doing prepping that lap?”
After the session, Russell played down the incident, stating that he and his teammate were simply trying to get the same tow. “Lewis was quite a long way ahead of me, but I think we both had our eyes on the same driver for a slipstream opening the lap,” Russell explained to Motorsport.com.
Fortunately for Russell, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also came streaming past before the final turn, allowing the Mercedes driver to get a slipstream off the Spaniard instead of Ocon.
Despite the team’s internal battle, both Russell and Hamilton performed well on their second runs, narrowly holding off the Ferraris to claim third and fourth on the grid respectively. The pair finished just three-tenths off the front row, with Russell trailing Hamilton by a mere 0.002 seconds.
“Two milliseconds is the biggest gap I’ve had for the last four races to a driver around me, so it’s crazy to think that.”
“Two milliseconds is the biggest gap I’ve had for the last four races to a driver around me, so it’s crazy to think that,” Russell said. “Taking the positives as a team, we’re in the mix. Lando did a really great lap. I don’t think Lewis and I really put it together perfectly, but nevertheless, we are P3 and P4, and in a great place to fight for a win tomorrow.”
With Mercedes’ steady stream of upgrades paying off, the team is poised to challenge for victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, where tire degradation could open up opportunities for overtaking.
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