Hamilton outperformed Russell for the second time in 10 rounds at the Barcelona circuit.
Lewis Hamilton has disclosed that a thorough examination of the tire behavior aided him in resolving his previous difficulties during qualifying sessions in the 2024 Formula 1 season in Spain.
Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions in the sport with 104, but he had been struggling to achieve clean sessions this season prior to the race in Barcelona.
His struggles even led him to suggest in Monaco that he would not be able to outperform his teammate George Russell for the remainder of the season, as he was trailing 7-1 in their head-to-head battles.
This statement prompted an anonymous email alleging that Mercedes was using unfair tactics to sabotage Hamilton in his final season with the team.
However, Mercedes dismissed the accusation, and Hamilton had his strongest performance of the season in Spain, converting his third place on the grid into a podium finish.
When asked how he overcame his issues, Hamilton emphasized that tire temperature was the main factor, and he remains hopeful that this marks a turning point for him.
“I conducted extensive analysis and requested a lot of information from the team on how we can improve, specifically in relation to the tires,” Hamilton explained.
“We are continuously working on improving our processes from one session to another.
Qualifying brings about some changes, as the car becomes lighter and we rely more on the DRS.
Only time will tell, but I believe we have made a breakthrough and now we need to build on that.”
Hamilton is confident that his previous difficulties were primarily caused by the delicate nature of Pirelli’s current tire compounds, rather than any inherent flaw in his Mercedes W15 car.
When asked whether the issue was with the tires or the car itself, Hamilton responded, “I believe it’s a combination of both.
The car’s aerodynamics are more sensitive and require a delicate balance between the mechanical and aerodynamic aspects, especially when transitioning from high to low speeds.
However, tire temperature and the way you handle your out laps are also crucial.
Every team is trying to find the right balance. Just look at the Ferraris in Montreal, who failed to advance from Q2.
That can only be attributed to tire temperature, even though they have a fast car and had won a race prior to that.
It just goes to show that it’s easy to have issues with tire performance and it’s also easy to push the tires too hard.
I believe the tires are more sensitive this season compared to any other season I have been in.”