Mercedes
Hamilton had an uncommon spin early on after an excellent begin had lifted him to P12. He misplaced the rear by himself and acquired beached within the gravel, with crew boss Wolff indicating a automobile problem slightly than driver error was in charge. Russell did choose up some factors for the crew regardless of ranging from the pit lane, to make sure they didn’t lose out utterly in Austin. He made a protracted first stint on the hards work nicely and managed to overhaul Perez late on to complete sixth – which is the place he would have began, however for that qualifying crash yesterday.
Lewis Hamilton, DNF
“I had an excellent begin, and I believed we have been in for a optimistic race. I used to be simply bringing the tyres in once I had the accident, which was a extremely unusual second. I wasn’t pushing too arduous however the automobile bounced just a little into flip 19, I misplaced the again finish and that was that. We measured a big gust of wind, as much as 40 kph, as I turned through which seemingly didn’t assist. George had an analogous spin to me yesterday so we are going to work arduous to analyse each incidents and see what we will be taught from them.
“I’m sorry to the entire crew who’ve labored so arduous to convey these updates however onwards and upwards from right here. Hopefully we will get the automobile in a greater place for subsequent week in Mexico. We’ll all be working extremely arduous to take action.”
George Russell, sixth
“I used to be happy with how at this time went from my aspect. We didn’t know what the race would convey by way of alternatives however going from the pit lane to P6, and ending forward of Crimson Bull, meant that we made the most effective of a troublesome scenario. We had good tempo all through, particularly on the Exhausting compound tyre. We have been in a position to prolong that first stint and provides ourselves brisker rubber with which to assault within the closing laps.
“We’ll work arduous within the coming days to analyse the weekend as an entire. The automobile can nonetheless be difficult at occasions; Lewis doesn’t finish races within the gravel as we noticed at this time. After we discover its candy spot, it’s able to sturdy performances however that’s troublesome to ship constantly. I believe the automobile had the potential to combat for the rostrum this weekend, however we have to widen its working window. We’ll due to this fact be trying to bounce again subsequent weekend in Mexico.”
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“It has been a tricky weekend total right here in Austin. We see that there’s tempo within the automobile, as was proven on Friday and with George within the race at this time, however we’re nonetheless coping with its inconsistency. That isn’t one thing distinctive to us although. Completely different groups have come into and off form all through the season, however it’s one thing we can be working arduous to enhance over the ultimate 5 races of the season.
“The optimistic from at this time was that George was fast all through and produced a very good fightback from his pit lane begin. The crew within the storage labored arduous final evening to get the automobile prepared for the race, with a big workload to get by means of as we needed to revert on specification. George drove a robust race and was significantly fast on the Exhausting compound. That enabled us to increase his first stint and finally declare P6 within the closing few laps. Sadly, it was a disappointing day for Lewis. He wasn’t pushing in any respect however a gust of wind, mixed with the soiled air from the automobile forward, and he misplaced the automobile. We have to take a look at that, and what occurred with George yesterday, to know why the automobile reacted like that. Lewis Hamilton shouldn’t be a driver that loses a automobile like that on lap two of a race, so there’s something there that we have to perceive.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
“Provided that we had one automobile beginning on the again and one within the pit lane, we had real looking expectations as to what may very well be achieved at this time. Lewis made a very good begin and was shortly as much as P12. Sadly, that did not final lengthy as he misplaced the rear in flip 19. We’re nonetheless investigating what prompted that, however in any case, his race was over.
“George was making regular progress by means of the sphere in his first stint, however it nonetheless took him till the midway level to get any clear air to guage tempo. Encouragingly, the automobile was hanging on to its tyres nicely and that was permitting us to increase. P6 was the most effective he might have achieved at this time, and he drove a very good race to get there.
“As a crew we’ve got underachieved throughout the weekend and are beneath no illusions that we have to do higher. The replace package has proven some promise, however we have not had a single clear session, and we’ll depart right here not understanding what we might have executed if we would began close to the entrance with a automobile in our newest aero specification. We’ll look to reply that query subsequent weekend in Mexico.”
