Hamilton’s Frustrations Show in Sprint Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton has doubts over his speed after a tough day at the Lusail International Circuit, finishing Sprint Qualifying in P7. The seven-time world champion was uncharacteristically downbeat, openly admitting…
“I’m just slow, and [it’s the] same every weekend.”
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After struggling to find pace, Hamilton’s frustrations were clear as he declared,
“I’m definitely not fast anymore.” His car felt “relatively decent” during the session, but the performance wasn’t enough to compete with the frontrunners. Reflecting on the situation, Hamilton added…
“The long run didn’t feel too bad, but when you’re always back where I am it makes it really hard to be competing for – well, almost impossible pretty much – to be competing for wins from there.”
While the car showed potential, it was little consolation for Hamilton, who couldn’t take many positives from the session. He did, however, acknowledge his teammate’s chances, saying…
“The car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.”
Russell Confident After Stellar P2
Meanwhile, George Russell had a much more upbeat day, delivering a brilliant performance to secure P2 on the Sprint grid. The young Briton disrupted McLaren’s hopes of a front-row lockout, slotting in just behind pole-sitter Lando Norris.
“I felt really strong all session, the car was really great, and this circuit is really one of the best when you get in the groove and that rhythm.”
Russell shared enthusiastically.
Russell even described the thrilling moment in SQ3 where he pushed his car to the limits:
“I went flat through the high-speed for the first time on my final lap and confused the engine a little bit… but I think Lando was just a smidge out of reach.”
Looking ahead to the Sprint race, Russell was optimistic: “We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re going for the big result, so we’ll try and make a good start.”
Contrasting Fortunes at Mercedes
While Hamilton’s struggles raised questions about his form, Russell’s confidence signaled a bright spot for Mercedes. The pair will hope to make the most of their opportunities in the upcoming race, with Russell eyeing a potential Sprint victory and Hamilton determined to turn his weekend around.
For now, the spotlight remains on Hamilton doubts, while Russell stands ready to seize the moment.
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Featured image for Hamilton Doubts article courtesy of the Mercedes F1 Content Pool.