Lewis Hamilton says that “every qualifying session I’ve had this year” has been “frustrating” – owing to the inconsistent performance of his Mercedes W15 – after taking P6 on the grid for the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Hamilton, running the most recent updated parts on the W15, was encouraged by the balance of the car during the final practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Saturday.

But he was a non-contender for the front-running positions during qualifying and classified in sixth position, behind team mate George Russell.

“The car felt good in FP3, [before] qualifying I didn’t change anything, then in qualifying it completely turns on its head,” Hamilton said. “It’s definitely a frustrating qualifying session but that’s every qualifying session I’ve had this year.”

Hamilton rules out repeat of last year’s P6 to P2 run in Mexico

Speaking further with the written media, Hamilton said: “It was like it flipped on its head [between FP3 and qualifying]. It’s a very strange thing with the car. It will be interesting to get a reading because I’m obviously on the upgraded car, which should be quicker. But I don’t think it is.

“We have three-wheeling and the ride height is moving 15mm up and down and when it does that, it s***s the bed basically.”

With Russell using the old-spec car – which he was already using before his hefty accident during Friday’s second practice session – Hamilton is hoping Sunday’s race proves valuable in terms of back-to-back comparisons.

“We’ll get lots of data tomorrow,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think we can compete with the guys ahead. They are just too far. So just see how it goes. I just want to get to the end of the race this time, at least.”

Russell left ‘super happy’ with his qualifying lap after Friday crash

Russell was encouraged by his result owing to the repair job required after Friday’s accident.

“I’m really happy with the recovery, obviously we’re still on the old bits from 12 races ago, my lap felt really strong, I’m super happy with it, just a tenth from P3, yeah, after Friday we’d have taken that,” Russell said.

“I’m not too sure what it means for the race – Checo [Perez] and [Oscar] Piastri are out of position, P5 is probably the most we could have hoped for. The three teams in front have got a bit of a battle on their hands so maybe the race will come towards us.”