Russell Ready to Fight for Sprint Win in Qatar, Hamilton Struggles with Pace

The Mercedes team experienced contrasting emotions after Sprint Qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix, with George Russell feeling confident and upbeat, while Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over his lack of speed.

Russell’s Confidence High After Strong Sprint Qualifying Performance

George Russell displayed a remarkable performance at the Lusail International Circuit, finishing P2 on the grid for the Sprint race. Coming off a victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Russell showed strong form throughout the session, and his final lap in SQ3 saw him snatch second place, just behind Lando Norris in pole position. This result meant Russell disrupted a potential McLaren front-row lockout, setting himself up for an exciting Sprint race.

Russell shared his thoughts after the session: “I felt really strong all session. The car was really great, and this circuit is one of the best when you get in the groove and the rhythm.” He noted how he went “flat” through the high-speed corners for the first time, a move that caused a minor issue with the engine’s recharge. Despite the setback, Russell remained positive and confident heading into the Sprint.
“Yeah, definitely [confident of taking the fight to Norris],” he said. “We’ve got nothing to lose – we’re going for the big result.”

Hamilton Struggles with Pace, Expresses Frustration

On the other side of the garage, Lewis Hamilton was less optimistic. The seven-time World Champion was visibly frustrated with his performance, ending up in P7, a position he felt was “just slow.” Hamilton admitted that his qualifying performance was “not that great,” and he struggled to find the speed necessary to compete at the front.

When asked about his performance, Hamilton explained:

“I’m just slow, and it’s the same every weekend. The car felt relatively decent, no issues. Not really much more to say.”

Although he acknowledged that the W15 car had good long-run pace in practice earlier on Friday, Hamilton expressed how difficult it was to make any significant progress from his position.

“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,” Hamilton reflected.

Despite his frustrations, Hamilton offered some encouragement for teammate Russell, noting that the car is fast and expressing confidence that Russell could fight for pole position in the upcoming qualifying session.

Looking Ahead to the Sprint Race and Beyond

Heading into Saturday’s Sprint race, Russell is poised to challenge Norris for the win, while Hamilton will look to improve his form and extract more pace from the Mercedes W15. The contrast in emotions within the Mercedes camp highlights the differing trajectories of the two drivers this season. While Russell’s recent momentum fuels his confidence, Hamilton’s struggle to find speed leaves him searching for answers as the season winds down.

With just a few races remaining in the season, the dynamics at Mercedes remain crucial to their chances in the constructors’ championship and both drivers’ individual standings. The Sprint race in Qatar promises to be a pivotal moment for both drivers as they push towards the season’s end.