Lewis Hamilton says his robust drive to a primary podium of the season finally week’s Spanish GP underlined that the “fireplace” inside him continues to be there and has vowed to “preserve it blazing” as Mercedes bid to proceed their current renaissance.
After enduring a disappointing opening third to his remaining season at Mercedes, Hamilton lastly returned to F1’s podium for the primary time since final October on Sunday in a Barcelona drive which included spectacular overtakes on Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Silver Arrows team-mate George Russell.
4 days on and now in Austria making ready for this weekend’s Dash format on the Pink Bull Ring, Hamilton mentioned in reflection on Barcelona: “It feels good to have races like that.
“Generally you aren’t getting to have a race like that the place you get to have your elbows out and have some actually enjoyable and difficult overtakes, however that was a very enjoyable one for me.
“Barcelona all the time places up a superb race and it has been a powerful one for me for a few years. All of us want good days like that in our lives simply to remind us that it is nonetheless there.
“The fireplace is certainly there and simply must proceed to provide it and preserve it blazing.”
Hamilton’s podium return got here a day after he outqualified Russell for simply the second time in 10 races this season, and for the primary time since April’s Japanese GP.
Requested concerning the work that had gone in to understanding why he was experiencing difficulties on a Saturday, Hamilton mentioned: “An enormous quantity of research. I might requested a number of info from the crew on how we will enhance and the place we’re missing.
“It’s merely with tyres, so simply persevering with to enhance on our processes from session to session. Notably when you get to qualifying issues to vary a bit of bit, the automobile is clearly lighter and also you’re within the DRS much more.
“However time will inform. I feel we cracked one thing, now it is to try to construct on that.”
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Lewis Hamilton takes the third spot away from team-mate George Russell on the Spanish Grand Prix.
Can Mercedes stay within the combine on the entrance in Austria?
Hamilton’s third place in Spain adopted on from Russell reaching the crew’s first 2024 podium on the earlier race in Canada, on a weekend through which the youthful Briton additionally claimed his first pole place of the yr.
Mercedes, who’ve outperformed Ferrari on the final two occasions however stay behind Pink Bull and McLaren, have introduced a succession of even handed updates to their W15 automobile in current races to efficiently shut the hole on the entrance of the sector.
“Most likely simply the entire crew is, not essentially on a excessive, however there’s an incredible vitality throughout the crew that we lastly have the route that we should be working in the direction of,” added Hamilton.
“Folks within the manufacturing facility undoubtedly have a spring of their step and for me, for certain, it feels good to be again in aggressive place.
“I simply need to proceed it, however we do not need to get forward of ourselves for certain.”
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George Russell says it is good to see Lando Norris on the high battling for wins however joked he hopes it will not ‘final lengthy’.
Buoyed by that current enchancment, Mercedes will chase a 3rd successive podium in Austria this weekend – a streak they final managed in 2022.
“The crew have completed an incredible job bringing these developments by way of sooner than anticipated in dribs and drabs relatively than one huge improve at one race,” mentioned Russell.
“Clearly the automobile has made a giant step ahead, however we nonetheless want a bit of bit further if we need to get in that battle week in, week out.
“On the finish of the day we have had two races thus far with the entire bundle, one in all which we may have received (Canada) and we most likely had the quickest automobile, and one in all which (Spain) we had been third quickest and Lewis was on the rostrum,
“That is additionally the pure fluctuations of automobile efficiency, so let’s have a look at what the following two races convey. However for certain now we have made a very good step.”
Russell added: “Coming right here [it’s] a really totally different circuit as soon as once more. I feel Ferrari will most likely be fairly aggressive, they’ve been excellent right here the final couple of years, however we really feel actually excited to be again on this combine.
“We all know McLaren and Pink Bull are nonetheless a bit of bit forward of us, however it swings fast. We noticed in Montreal that we had been most likely essentially the most aggressive, so let’s have a look at what this weekend brings.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Austrian GP schedule
Thursday June 27
12.30pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
Friday June 28
7.50am: F3 Observe
9am: F2 Observe
11am: Austrian GP Observe One (session begins at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Austrian GP Dash Qualifying (session begins at 3.30pm)*
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments all through the years on the Austrian Grand Prix.
Saturday June 29
8.25am: F3 Dash
10am: Austrian GP Dash (race begins at 11am)*
12.25pm: F2 Dash
2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Function Race
8.55am: F2 Function Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP response*
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion
F1’s triple-header continues on the Austrian Grand Prix this coming week – with the Dash format returning on the Pink Bull Ring. Watch each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s huge race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime