P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton says the wet conditions provided him and Mercedes with an opportunity to be more competitive as he secured a front row start for the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix. Mercedes focuse…
Lewis Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the wet conditions at the Chinese Grand Prix, which allowed him to secure a front row start for the Sprint race. Mercedes initially struggled on medium tires during Sprint qualifying, with George Russell dropping out in SQ2. However, Hamilton excelled in wet conditions in SQ3, securing second place behind Lando Norris. Despite his success, Hamilton hopes for more rain during the Sprint race to maintain his position, as he believes the dry weather will favor other teams. Team principal Toto Wolff is confident in Mercedes’ pace in both wet and dry conditions, expecting to compete with teams like McLaren. Hamilton briefly held Sprint pole position, but McLaren’s Lando Norris reclaimed it after a lap review, a decision Wolff accepted without complaint.
