Lewis Hamilton left a lasting impression with his performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Following a dismal P6 on Saturday, the Briton executed some daring maneuvers to finish the race on P2. The seven-time champion has continued to be optimistic about Mercedes’ prospects of consistently competing for podiums throughout the year, and it appears that Mercedes’ regular updates have validated his belief. However, even before that, the British driver had been diligently striving to finish the race clean, if not on the podium. This is definitely the sole justification for Mercedes’s 22-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructor table.
While Hamilton has been pushing hard the W-14 and finding tactics to finish higher in the pack, his teammate Russell has been struggling. In a recent interview with the BBC’s Checkered Flag podcast, commentator Jolyon Palmer claimed that Hamilton’s mastery had so far vanquished Ferrari in the constructors’ rankings.
The pundit detailed how Ferrari started first and second at the Mexican Grand Prix but was unable to capitalize on its starting positions. Additionally, he underlined that although the Scuderia beat George Russell handily, it was Hamilton’s skill on the track that proved to be the difference-maker for the Scuderia duo. He said, “ So it is only, I think, the Hamilton effect right now that’s beating Ferrari.
During his incredible stint at the Mexican racetrack, Hamilton made a stunning pass at Turn 1 to pass Leclerc. In that specific maneuver, the 38-year-old even placed his wheel on the grass. This proved to be one of the pivotal moments in the race, giving Hamilton a well-deserved P2, cutting the lead with Sergio Perez in the drivers’ championship, and preserving their superiority over Ferrari.
How will Mercedes and Ferrari’s duel progress at Abu Dhabi if the Lewis Hamilton effect remains in play?
Aston Martin was Red Bull’s closest rival in P2 at the beginning of the season; however, after the summer break, the Silverstone-based team suffered, and Mercedes and Ferrari have become the two teams vying for second place in the constructor’s table. Although Hamilton has almost successfully defended the Silver Arrows in the P2 race thanks to his consistent performance, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has now challenged Mercedes’ lead.
The 29-year-old hasn’t been this outspoken without a good reason, as some very dismal facts back up his claims. According to some recent stats, Silver Arrows, despite their recent form gains, had only defeated Ferrari in one of the previous eight Grand Prix races.
However, now that the two teams are separated by just 22 points, Sainz believes he and his team can win the $30 million battle for the second-place finish from Mercedes. In one of his post-race interviews, Carlos Sainz emphasized that Ferrari would surely have the upper hand in this rivalry, which is destined to go till the last race. He said, “Also Brazil, a sprint race weekend, was a very strong track for Mercedes last year so it will be a tough one but Las Vegas should be a bit better for us, and also Abu Dhabi.”
The points differential undoubtedly leads to an exciting battle between the two teams for the P2 place. However, It will be intriguing to see how both teams carry themselves with 59 points remaining for the final three races.
