Lewis Hamilton got dealt a rough hand on Friday at the Mexican Grand Prix, but he's not letting it ruin his outlook for the weekend. The Ferrari driver had to park his car midway through second practice after a power unit issue struck, which meant he couldn't get a proper long-run session under his belt with high fuel loads. Still, Hamilton reckons the Scuderia's package felt genuinely quick during the time he was out there, and he genuinely believes the team can fight for pole position come Saturday.
More F1 news: Ferrari Looking Quickest in Mexico, But Vasseur Warns: Don't Get Ahead of Yourselves
His teammate Charles Leclerc showed exactly why Hamilton's optimism makes sense by topping both practice sessions on Friday. The Monegasque driver's twin best times at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez proved Ferrari's got serious pace this weekend, even at the tricky high-altitude Mexico City circuit. This wasn't a one-off either, as Leclerc had dominated practice in Austin the week before, showing Ferrari's building some serious momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
More F1 news: Leclerc Dominates Mexico Friday as Hamilton's Power Unit Ruins His Session
For Hamilton, the silver lining is that despite losing valuable track time, he still felt the car was working well during his stint. He managed some productive setup changes with the team, which should leave him in decent shape heading into the rest of the weekend. The focus now shifts to Saturday's final practice and qualifying, where Ferrari will need to convert their undeniable pace advantage into pole position and then into results on race day.
More F1 news: Leclerc Sweeps Mexico Friday as Verstappen and Lawson Collide at Hermanos Rodriguez
The setback is obviously frustrating for any driver, especially one of Hamilton's caliber who's used to maximizing every session. But it does show just how strong Ferrari's overall performance is at the moment if both drivers can feel confident about their chances even when one hasn't had a clean run. With the championship picture still unsettled and only a handful of races remaining, Ferrari needs to strike while they're hot, and Mexico could be the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.
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