P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes dialled out qualifying pace to boost F1 race chances
The Mercedes team decided to change their car setup ahead of Saturday’s race in order to improve performance over race distance, rather than focusing solely on single-lap pace demonstrated by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in Thursday practice. Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, acknowledged that the new setup may have sacrificed some single-lap speed in favor of better tire management during the race. The team made adjustments overnight to address the balance of the car and ensure it would be more competitive in the race. Despite George Russell qualifying third, the team feels the new setup may still need refinement to challenge Max Verstappen on race day. Hamilton, who qualified ninth, pursued a different setup direction from Russell, aiming to improve his race pace and manage tire degradation for the demanding race conditions. The team remains cautious following past disqualification incidents and is hopeful that their strategic changes will pay off in Saturday’s race.
