F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Calls Out Mick Schumacher As Reason For Success
Following a great result at the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell singled out their Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher for his substantial contribution. It's the maiden double podium finish of the season for Mercedes, which trailed behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in this race.
Schumacher, who became a part of the Brackley-based squad as a reserve driver following his departure from Haas last year, was recognised for his critical work on the simulator. This effort came in handy after the Mercedes team faced challenges during the practice sessions on Friday.
The primary drivers of Mercedes, Hamilton and Russell, both acknowledged Schumacher's crucial role in their impressive performance. They emphasised that the German driver played an instrumental part in their success at the Spanish Grand Prix, after putting in many hours throughout the night on Friday.
Hamilton explained:
"Friday was a real struggle with the balance, it was way out of the window.
"It was very hard to drive, very unpredictable. And then we did some great work overnight.
"We've got a great team, with Mick back in the simulator on Friday night, and he did some great work, which helped us get on the right track on Saturday."
Russell agreed with the seven-time champion's sentiments. He commented:
"It probably felt the best it's ever felt around Barcelona because of the cooler conditions.
"Definitely this season, it is probably the best it's felt, the most together it's felt.
"The team's done a really, really great job. The work that Mick and the simulator team are doing overnight, they were there well past midnight to help us with the set-up and get it in a good window for the race today.
"So, we are making strides in the right direction. We just need to make sure, especially into next year, that we hit the ground running because I think we as a team probably develop faster than anybody else."