Hamilton reveals Mercedes 'party mode' pace that Ferrari cannot match
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Lewis Hamilton has been left puzzled by Mercedes' pace advantage at the start of the 2026 season, claiming the Silver Arrows have a 'party mode' in qualifying that their competitors cannot match.
Hamilton and George Russell had an epic battle in the opening stages of the Sprint Race in Shanghai, but it was the Mercedes driver who took the win, while Hamilton fell behind to P3 after an aggressive fight with teammate Charles Leclerc.
In his post-race interview, Hamilton explained Mercedes have a clear pace advantage on the straights, and in the press conference, further emphasised where Ferrari and co. are falling behind.
Mercedes have a 'party mode,' says Hamilton
Photo: Race Pictures
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In Saturday's post-sprint press conference, Hamilton spoke to media, including GPblog, about Mercedes' 'party mode' in qualifying when asked on the Silver Arrows' pace advantage.
Hamilton said: "The difference is, I mean, I was with Mercedes for a long time, so I know how it works there. In qualifying, they have another mode that they're able to go to. like party mode back in the day.
"And once they get to Q2, they switch that on, and we don't have that. So whatever that is.
"And in the race, they obviously don't have that mode. So they still obviously have an advantage overall, and we've got to figure out what that is.
"But there's something more there to extract, particularly in Q2. You see in Q1, we're not that far away. And then all of a sudden, it's like a huge step.
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"One tenth in Q1, behind, I think it was. And then all of a sudden, there's seventh tenths... another half a second. It's a big step."
Ferrari close in on Mercedes in Constructors' standings
Despite Hamilton's frustration with Ferrari's lack of pace to Mercedes, the Scuderia did gain points on their rivals after the Sprint Race, where Leclerc and Hamilton finished on the podium behind Russell.
It was a torrid day for Red Bull, however, as Max Verstappen's team went point-less in Shanghai.
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