Hamilton doubts “lost” Mercedes will reach Q3 in Singapore · RaceFans

Both Mercedes drivers were downcast over the team’s prospects following the first day of practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.

“At the moment, we won’t be going into Q3,” Lewis Hamilton concluded after ending the day with the 11th-fastest time, 0.982 seconds off pace-setter Lando Norris.

“It’s very difficult,” he told the official F1 channel. “A very challenging day.

“We tried everything set-up wise and nothing seems to work with the set-up. So definitely very challenging.

“We’re really giving it everything and then you find out you’re a second off. I think ultimately we’re just a little bit lost and I’m not really sure where to put the car.”

His team mate George Russell was two-tenths of a second quicker but damaged his car when he understeered into a barrier at turn eight towards the end of the second session. Russell echoed his team mate’s comments about the difficulties they are facing.

“It was really challenging Friday for us,” he said. “We were really off the pace today, we need to understand why that is. I’m sure we’ll find some answers tonight.

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“We made some big changes from FP1 in to FP2. But the car’s just not really feeling that well connected as it was this time 12 months ago and in recent races. So we need to try to get to the bottom of it.”

Russell said there was “a lot of surprises” among their rival teams, as he lapped quicker than both Red Bulls but slower than their sister team RB.

“You’ve got the [RBs] really quick, the Williams is really quick, Red Bull seemed to be off the pace and there seems to be a big gap to the McLarens and the Ferraris,” said Russell. “So as a minimum we hope to be in between that midfield gap and the front four but right now we’ve got a lot of work on our hands.”