© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Mercedes’ Technical Director James Allison says “Lewis has, not by accident, been the best qualifier in the history of the sport, because I think he’s been the best driver in the sport, but he’s struggling to make it stick this year by fine margins”.
This year, George Russell has been able to outqualify Lewis Hamilton in eight out of nine qualifying sessions so far.
During his appearance on the F1 Nation podcast, Mercedes’ Technical Director James Allison discussed why he believes that is.
“I wouldn’t have predicted 8-1,” the Briton said.
“And I think that for a chunk of the year, the car has been a pretty troubled beast.
“It’s become a much, much better car in the last two or three races and, with that, I think the judgments about who may or may not put it in front of the other car become more meaningful, because the car is less of a random number generator.
“Lewis has, not by accident, been the best qualifier in the history of the sport, because I think he’s been the best driver in the sport, but he’s struggling to make it stick this year by fine margins, as you say.
“I think, to a degree, I was speculating this in an email I sent to the factory yesterday that the current car-tyre combo, not just us, across the pit lane, it doesn’t like being hustled – you almost get the best lap times when you’re not trying.
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“And you see every weekend, you’ll see someone pop a lap time in free practice or in qualifying, in some session or other, you’ll see some car and you think, ‘how did that get there?’ And then they don’t do it again, it sort of disappears in the mist straight after.
“I think in qualifying it’s quite hard, where you’re all pumped up and you’re wanting to get the best from it, to do a lap that is sort of relaxed enough to get the best out of the car.”
However, Allison also praised George’s quali performance so far..
“I think he’s very, very consistent at getting the car at its best in qualifying trim – he’s really good at that.
“I think it’s much more even in the race and Lewis’ race pace has been very strong relative to George on a number of occasions this year.
“But in qualifying, George has definitely had the better of it,” he concluded.
