Lewis Hamilton: “I’m Just Slow” – A Downbeat Reaction to Qatar Sprint Qualifying

Lewis Hamilton admitted he felt “slow” after finishing seventh in Qatar Sprint qualifying, as Mercedes teammate George Russell outperformed him once again.

Lewis Hamilton’s Qatar Sprint Qualifying Woes

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton delivered a candid assessment of his performance after a tough Sprint qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. While Hamilton described his Mercedes W15 as “relatively decent,” he admitted to feeling “definitely not fast” during the session, which saw him qualify seventh for Saturday’s Sprint race.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, secured a more competitive position, finishing just a tenth behind polesitter Lando Norris.

Qualifying Struggles: A Recurring Theme

Hamilton’s Sprint qualifying result in Qatar highlights a season-long trend. Russell now leads their head-to-head qualifying battles 17-5 in Grands Prix and 5-1 in Sprint sessions. Despite sharing equal race wins this season, Hamilton trails Russell by nine points in the Drivers’ standings with just two races remaining.

The disparity in qualifying form has been a source of frustration for Hamilton, who noted earlier in the year that qualifying had been his “weakness.”

Hamilton’s Post-Qualifying Reaction

Speaking about his session in Lusail, Hamilton said:

“Same as every other qualifying, not that great. I’m just slow, same every weekend. Car felt relatively decent, no issues, and not really much more to say.”

Hamilton acknowledged that starting further back makes it “almost impossible” to compete for wins, but remained committed to maximizing his performance in the Sprint.

When asked if he could take away any positives, Hamilton replied bluntly:

“Not particularly, no. The positive is that the car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.”

Despite the interviewer suggesting that his struggles are not entirely his fault, Hamilton responded with a smile:

“Who knows? I’m definitely not fast anymore.”

Looking Ahead

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari next season will present new challenges as he partners Charles Leclerc, who leads Carlos Sainz 13-8 in their 2024 qualifying head-to-head. However, Hamilton’s self-critical remarks suggest he’s keen to address his struggles and return to form.

As Hamilton prepares for the final races of the season, fans will be watching to see if he can rebound and close out his Mercedes tenure on a high note.