Lewis Hamilton has few positive things to take with him to race day after a disappointing qualifying. The Briton did not make it to Q3 and indicates that Mercedes should not be in that position. For the third time in a row, the seven-time world champion was defeated by teammate George Russell. Alexander Albon was just not too quick for him.
Hamilton was out after Q2 when he could barely improve his time. Yuki Tsunoda, on the other hand, shot to the eighth fastest time, and Russell also managed to enter the top ten. However, the 39-year-old was then in P11, one place ahead of Albon’s Williams. The driver from Stevenage shrugs his shoulders and does not have much to say to the media. “It was the wind, the balance of the car,” Hamilton sums up in front of the microphone at Viaplay. “For some reason we had a hard time getting out of Q1 during qualifying,” he continues.
His first fast run earned him P5, and he was briefly faster than Russell, but as soon as the other times trickled in, Hamilton was out of the picture. ‘I was almost out again in Q1. We’re a bit sloppy in that area, and we shouldn’t be in that position. We saw some positive things in FP3, but not at all during qualifying.’ Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff looked not amused in the images when Hamilton was pushed out of Q2. The Brit can start the race from P11, and Russell from P7. McLaren from P3 and P5.
Hamilton sighs: ‘I haven’t done a long run’
Drivers always have something to fight for, especially on a circuit like Albert Park Circuit, where something often goes wrong that results in a safety car or a red flag. At the moment that also leaves Hamilton cold. “I don’t have many positives for the race on Sunday,” said Hamilton. “I haven’t done a long run,” he continues. “All I can say is it’s a new day, and hopefully something will happen. I’m going to try to enjoy the race,” said the seven-time world champion.
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