What the teams said – Race day at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

Mercedes

Mercedes cut up methods in the beginning, Russell on the mediums and Hamilton on the softs. It was quickly clear that Russell had the higher technique, Hamilton struggling and having to pit sooner than the opposite entrance runners. That price him his podium, as he spent an excessive amount of of his priceless rubber combating his approach again by the sector. Russell inherited his group mate’s podium spot, and seemed on for third for a lot of the race however he couldn’t maintain a sooner McLaren at bay late on, though he did handle to cease Leclerc from getting previous on the ultimate lap.

Lewis Hamilton, sixth

“It’s exhausting to explain the vary of feelings you’re feeling when we now have a troublesome race like that. This yr continues to be a testing one for everybody, however we’re all pushing as exhausting as we are able to. We don’t at all times get issues proper and that was the case as we speak with our technique. All of us head into the weekend, and each resolution we take, with the proper intentions and generally it doesn’t work out. It may be irritating, however we’re all on this collectively.

“We now have misplaced some type to the leaders previously few races and we’re working exhausting to determine why that’s. We’ll do what we do greatest although and that’s to return collectively as a group, analyse and refocus forward of Austin. We’ll head there with power, drive, and dedication. It’s one other alternative to point out what we are able to do once we get issues proper and to hopefully take a step ahead with the automobile.”

George Russell, 4th

“After a really troublesome Friday, we’d have doubtless taken P4 within the Grand Prix. Our tempo in Qualifying nonetheless made us imagine we might obtain extra. Right now was little question a troublesome race for us, each difficult by way of our tempo but in addition bodily. The McLarens have been very spectacular and in one other league to us, while Max (Verstappen) had the legs on us. We have been capable of maintain off the Ferrari of Charles (Leclerc) within the closing levels, so it was very a lot a night of injury limitation. Given the tempo of the automobile, that was the perfect we might have achieved.

“We now have a variety of work to do within the coming weeks to know why we’ve struggled to problem on the entrance previously few races. We haven’t been as aggressive because the summer time break and that’s irritating. We’ll work exhausting to get on prime of it although and hopefully the updates we carry to the subsequent race in Austin will assist us take a step nearer to the entrance.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“That was a extremely painful night for us. P4 and P6 shouldn’t be a superb consequence after beginning P3 and P4. Our technique choices within the race have been decided by our experiences previously right here the place observe place is essential. We thought that the Delicate tyre would give Lewis a bonus in the beginning however that turned out to be the incorrect resolution. With our challenges managing the rear surfaces, we went backwards. Overtaking proved doable, opposite to earlier races right here the place it has been extra processional, and in hindsight we should always have began him on the Medium.

“It doesn’t conceal the actual fact although that we have been too sluggish as we speak. We’re struggling in the intervening time with tracks which can be sizzling and demanding on traction, like right here and Baku, however that’s no excuse. It’s troublesome for us to just accept however we should do and discover a approach to enhance. We now sit up for Austin the place we can have an replace coming and we hope that may transfer us ahead.”

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

“Our tempo was finally poor as we speak and that made for an extremely difficult night. Having certified inside a few tenths of Norris and Verstappen, we anticipated with the ability to race for the rostrum. That formed our resolution to begin on the Delicate compound with Lewis as we seemed to make up floor on the opening lap. Sadly, with our lack of tempo and struggles to manage the rear tyre temperatures, that proved the inaccurate resolution and left him in for a troublesome race.

“It was very a lot a case of a defensive technique and race for George. We needed to decide our battles, and it was clear that we didn’t have the pace to be in a struggle with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri. He was a lot sooner and, with a tyre benefit, was at all times going to get by. George did effectively to carry off the hard-charging Ferrari of Leclerc and restrict the harm.

“We’ve now bought the chance over the subsequent few weeks to analyse and perceive what occurred to our tempo as we speak. We had moments over the weekend the place we have been aggressive, so we all know there’s inherent tempo within the automobile. We can even be bringing an replace package deal to the automobile on the subsequent race and we hope that may carry us nearer to the struggle on the entrance.”