Mercedes endures a Friday of mixed emotions at the F1 United States Grand Prix

AUSTIN — Friday at the United States Grand Prix was a story of good news and bad news for Mercedes.

On the positive side of the ledger, George Russell qualified on the front row for Saturday’s F1 Sprint race and will start alongside Max Verstappen at the sharp end of the grid.

But it was a different story on the other side of the garage as Lewis Hamilton, who saw a lap hampered by a yellow flag when Franco Colapinto spun, will start seventh on the grid.

“I’m really happy with how today went. It has been a while since we qualified on the front-row so we can be pleased with the progress we have made. The update kit we brought here seems to be working well although it has surprised us a little how competitive we were today,” said Russell after the qualifying session in the team’s post-qualifying report. “Sprint Qualifying was a tricky session, but I was able to put my lap in SQ3 together. The final sector in particular was strong and that is what enabled us to take P2.

“Lewis was very quick today, and he was unlucky to be caught out by a yellow flag. We both should have been up there but it’s great that, as a team, we were back in the mix today,” added Russell. “It is also clearly very close with several other outfits including Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. Hopefully we can continue this form into the weekend and look forward to fighting at the front.”

While Hamilton expressed some frustration at finishing seventh, he took solace in the fact that the extensive upgrade package Mercedes brought to Austin might already be paying dividends.

“That was a real shame today as I got unlucky with a yellow flag. I was four-tenths up on my lap and looking good for P1, but it is what it is. The good thing is that we seem to have made a step forward with the car,” said Hamilton. “The update we have brought here was working well and I am really grateful to everyone back at the factory for their hard work. The last few races haven’t been straightforward, but everyone has done a great job to bring this upgrade.”

Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin also highlighted the indication that the team’s upgrades are working, a soothing balm to ease the frustration over Hamilton’s unfortunate qualifying position.

“We have brought an update kit this weekend and its introduction has been straightforward,” said Shovlin. “It is of course only one day of running but it does look like we are seeing the gains we hoped for. We will look to continue that momentum into the rest of the weekend.”

Mercedes will hope that things remain straightforward over the next two days here in Austin.