© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull were “close to half-a-second” faster than Mercedes and he “couldn’t really match that with also trying to manage the tyres”.
Lewis Hamilton battled two superior Red Bulls at the Mexican Grand Prix, and while he couldn’t even jeopardize Max Verstappen, he also barely fought off Sergio Perez to hold on to P2.
At the post-race press conference the Briton summed up his race.
“Yeah, well, I mean, it was fairly lonely until the end,” Hamilton said.
“Obviously not a lot that I could do really about the pace that Max was able to put in.
“I think they were close to half-a-second, I think it was, a lap, something like that, and I couldn’t really match that with also trying to manage the tyres.
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“So, I think on, in the Friday night we thought they would be two-tenths faster or something in the race but it was I think a little bit more today.
“And then obviously at the end trying to keep the second Red Bull behind… it was difficult, of course, I mean I’m used to pressure so that wasn’t the issue.
“It was just that it was the last couple of laps, my tyres were falling off and so for sure it was difficult and Sergio did a great job but they have clearly got some amazing pace this weekend and particularly today.
“So, I’m just grateful that I was able to stay in between them and get as many points as I could for the team.
“And we live to fight another day,” concluded the seven-time champion.
