\n<\/p>\n
Hamilton, for one, but also Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who under-performed slightly in qualifying because of a combination between an unusual tyre strategy and an error on an early run.<\/p>\n
The world championship leader’s fourth place becomes third on the grid with Hadjar’s penalty, and he can usually be relied upon to be a factor in the race.<\/p>\n
Antonelli’s main focus will be his advantage over team-mate George Russell, who trails the Italian by 66 points and starts four places behind, his momentum from his Baku win stalled, and somewhat perplexed as to his and his team’s lack of pace.<\/p>\n
At Mercedes, the bigger question is over the aerodynamic upgrade they brought to the car this weekend.<\/p>\n
Mercedes are lagging behind their rivals when it comes to developing their car this season, apparently at least in part because they front-loaded their spend early in the season.<\/p>\n
But this first big update since the Canadian Grand Prix in June has not yet proved the step they had expected.<\/p>\n
The question is whether that is to do with the parts themselves or the very specific conditions of this weekend, in the heat and on the rough track surface, which is putting the tyres through the mill, and massively limiting the useful laps teams can do in terms of set-up work.<\/p>\n
Antonelli said: “With this new package, obviously the window of the way the car operates is different. So, we’re trying to understand in which window the car performance is best, in the high-speed corner and low-speed corners.<\/p>\n
“Our high-speed performance has been very strong this weekend. We were very quick in the high-speed, but in the low-speed we lacked. So, we need to understand why and try to move on and improve.”<\/p>\n
As for the race, Antonelli said: “Track position is going to be very important. Strategy is going to be really important.<\/p>\n
“It’s a race where we will attack. Because undercut (stopping first and gaining time on a rival on fresh tyres) is incredibly powerful.<\/p>\n
“So whenever there’s an opportunity, we should go for maybe an undercut and try to maximise our opportunity.<\/p>\n
“Tomorrow might be two stops, three stops. We don’t know. But the only thing we know is that it’s going to be roasting hot out there.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n