© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
After getting P2 at the Mexican Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton says “if we can get the car that can match” Red Bull, “we’re going to have some great battles next year”.
Lewis Hamilton finished the Mexican Grand Prix in P2, behind Max Verstappen, following an amazing drive.
After he got out of the car, Lewis gave his first statements to Jenson Button.
“I feel fresh, we weren’t having to push crazy hard out there,” Lewis said.
“But this is a great result considering we started sixth. Really proud of the team.
“This is a really difficult couple of weeks and to bounce back after a difficult weekend last weekend with the end result, this is really well done.”
Lewis was the only frontrunners who took on medium tyres after the race was red flagged on lap 32 of 71, following Kevin Magnussen’s crash.
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Asked if he believes the tyres could last until the end of the race, he said:
“I wasn’t thinking they were going to last. I did some sweet finesse.
“I was trying to drive like you,” Lewis joked.
Later, while speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said he wasn’t expecting such a great result after a difficult weekend.
“Honestly, I just wasn’t expecting that today. It’s just always a great feeling when you are just putting one foot in front of the other and progressing.
“The weekend had been really difficult compared to the last race where we had just hit the ground running.
“This weekend I was really digging deep to try and get the set-up right and I think we did a great job.
“Qualifying was a bit tricky and to be far behind the Ferraris, we need to finish ahead of them to keep the constructors’ [position] so that’s what I was pushing for today.
“To have progressed so well through the early phase of the race and be challenging for a podium and then a second place is amazing. I am really happy with the race.”
Asked what he can take from his performance at the Mexican GP, Lewis said:
“I am incredibly proud of my team and, as I said at the end of the race, I have total faith in the team.
“We can build a great car. We haven’t for the past two years but we can build a great car. There is a lot of engineers that… nobody wants to copy anybody, they want to find their own way.
“I think we are progressing but I heard Red Bull are progressing as well. We have to be really, really strategic and really clinical with moves.
“They know that already but in order for us to be battling those guys [we need to do that]. They are so quick on the straight, we were losing two and a half tenths into turn one, but I’m ready.
“If we can get the car that can match them, we’re going to have some great battles next year,” the Briton concluded.
