Lewis Hamilton impressed in Las Vegas (Image: The Associated Press)
topped the timesheets in both practice sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix but says still have “work to do” ahead of qualifying on Saturday.
In the first session Hamilton outpaced team-mate by 0.396 seconds and later beat driver in FP2 by just 0.011 seconds.
Hamilton ended a two-and-a-half-year winless streak at the British Grand Prix in July, but he is seventh in the world championship, 203 points behind and a place and two points back from Russell.
But the seven-time world champion rolled back the years in Vegas to lay down an emphatic marker in the cold desert air which appeared to play to ‘ strengths.
The Brit however insists the Silver Arrows still have tweaks to make overnight to ensure they’re looking just as strong on Saturday in Sin City.
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“I am feeling pretty good,” said Hamilton. “That is the first time I have had a day like that this year. The car was feeling really good in P1 and in P2 less so. We have work to do overnight.
“It is difficult to know exactly where we are and why we are where we are but I am really enjoying driving the track. We will see whether the car is still the same tomorrow.
“The race pace is still not great. We have got work to do overnight to figure out how we are going to get better race pace without losing natural pace throughout the lap.
“It was nice to get consecutive sectors and the car not throwing me off. I am feeling good in myself. As I said heading into this weekend, I know it is not my driving.
“I’ve just got to work hard overnight not to make big changes and I hope I can get some good rest tonight.”
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in FP1 and FP2 (Image: Getty)
Hamilton, set to join next season, confessed he considered ending his 12-year stint with , which has seen him win six of his seven world titles, after a challenging race in the wet conditions of the Brazilian Grand Prix last time out.
team principal commented on Hamilton’s state of mind: “We all know that Lewis wears his heart on the sleeve.
“It was such a bad experience for him, that whole race weekend in Brazil, and particularly the Sunday, he said something that wasn’t, in a way, unusual.”
“Now, this time was probably particularly bad. There are three races to go. He announced at the beginning of the year that he was joining , and I am proud how we have achieved to maintain the professional relationships and we have given him a tool that is not good enough.”