Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is happy with “good result” of third on the grid for 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton initially qualified fourth on the grid in a topsy-turvy Qualifying but was promoted to third post-session, after Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg received a three-place grid penalty for failing to stay above the minimum delta time during a red flag in Q3.
Mercedes though had struggled across FP3 and Qualifying with getting temperatures into their intermediate tyres, so Hamilton believes that third on the grid is a “good result” amidst “very difficult” conditions with a “tricky” surface on the damp track.
Hamilton however irated that pole-sitter, Max Verstappen is likely beyond reach and is instead targeting Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in the battle for a second-placed finish.
The seven-time champion is therefore relishing the prospect of fighting his ex McLaren teammate, as he commented: “I hope we can compete with Fernando (Alonso) and if so, I think a podium is on the cards. It would be good to have a battle with him.
“Our race pace is often better than our single lap pace and hopefully that’s the case tomorrow.”
Hamilton’s feelings were echoed by teammate, George Russell who is confident of a top-three finish as he said: “I believe we can fight for a podium from P5 tomorrow. We saw what we did from P12 in Barcelona, so we are satisfied with today; it’s our best qualifying result since Australia.
“Fernando is going to be our main target and we’re looking forward to the race.”
Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin meanwhile believes that Hamilton is lucky to have even made Q3, having flirted with elimination during Q2 during a “narrow window” of slick tyre running before conditions “worsened”.
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