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Mercedes’ second successive strong Friday left its seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton visibly buoyant for potentially the first time this 2022 season.
George Russell and five-time Spanish Grand Prix winner Hamilton were second and third fastest during the second practice session, two weeks on from Russell topping second practice in Miami.
Russell’s pacesetting times in Miami ultimately resulted in a Q2 exit on Saturday before he fought back to fifth place, aided by the timing of the safety car.
For this weekend’s Spanish GP, Mercedes has brought another upgrade package that includes modifications to its floor.
The porpoising woes that have haunted Mercedes’ season were visibly improved during both practice sessions.
“I’m super happy with the progress and a massive thank you to the team back at the factory for all the hard work, refusing to give up and continuing to push,” Hamilton said.
“We’re not the quickest yet but I think we’re on our way.
“It’s the first time we’ve driven down the straight without bouncing; we still have some, but it’s way better.
“We’re starting to eke into the potential of the car. It remains tough out there but much nicer to drive than it has been before.
“We’ve brought a few upgrades and we now need to fine-tune them. We have a lot of data to go through to position the car.”
Hamilton says he believes Mercedes can get “into an even better place for tomorrow” and the team could “tap on the heels” of the cars ahead – 2022 pacesetters Ferrari and Red Bull.
His positivity was cautiously echoed by his team-mate Russell.
“In Miami, we were quickest on Friday, here we’re second but the car is definitely reacting differently,” Russell said.
“We don’t have the porpoising on the straights which is great but we’re still experiencing it here and there through the corners which ultimately we need to dial out.
“Red Bull still looks very strong and the team to be reckoned with at the moment.
“I see no reason why we can’t be as close, if not a little closer, to the front throughout the weekend.
“With the differences in power modes it is difficult to tell where we are on true pace, Ferrari and Red Bull looked to be in their lowest power modes.
“Degradation was massive for everyone and that’s going to be make-or-break in the race on Sunday so that’ll be our focus tonight.”
Team boss Toto Wolff said Mercedes is finally “getting there” on the chassis side and praised the work of those at the factory.
“It’s better but not that drivers feel comfortable in high-speed [corners] like in Turn 3 and Turn 9, they’re [still] losing a lot of time,” he said. “Need to find out what to do.”
