P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton will start the Bahrain Grand Prix ninth whilst Russell will begin third for Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took different setup directions for the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying due to their varying fortunes. The new Mercedes W15 has provided a performance boost compared to the previous cars from the Brackley-based team. Russell secured the third grid spot, while Hamilton could only manage ninth despite topping the practice session on Thursday. Hamilton noted that they started with identical setups but then diverged, hoping his race pace would improve. The tight qualifying session highlighted how close teams are this season under the current regulations, with small margins separating the drivers. Hamilton praised Russell’s performance as a testament to the team’s efforts in providing a competitive car.
