Lewis Hamilton's Startling Admission: Expecting to Trail Russell in Every Qualifying This Season
In a surprising revelation, seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has openly stated that he anticipates being out-qualified by his Mercedes teammate George Russell in every session this year. After a challenging Saturday qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton offered insights that left many fans and experts taken aback.
Qualifying Woes in Monaco
The prestigious Monaco Grand Prix saw Hamilton finishing seventh in qualifying, despite showing promise in earlier practice sessions where he topped the opening practice and secured second and third places in FP2 and FP3, respectively. In contrast, George Russell managed to clinch fourth place, leaving Hamilton visibly frustrated.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton remarked, “I already know automatically that I’m going to lose two-tenths going into qualifying. I don’t anticipate being ahead of George in qualifying, particularly this year.” When prompted to elaborate, Hamilton cryptically added, “We’ll see.” This marks a notable shift in dynamics within the Mercedes team as Russell continues to outperform his more experienced teammate.
Mercedes AMG F1 W15. 24.05.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 8, Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Practice Day." srcset="https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MonacoGP-Mercedes-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MonacoGP-Mercedes-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MonacoGP-Mercedes-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MonacoGP-Mercedes.jpg 1200w"> Struggling Against the Odds
Russell’s qualifying time placed him at fifth on the grid, just 0.273 seconds shy of Charles Leclerc’s pole position. This performance moves Russell to seven-one ahead of Hamilton in qualifying outcomes for the year. In stark contrast, Hamilton found himself trailing by three and a half tenths from Leclerc’s time, an outcome he had hoped to avoid.
The British racer had previously voiced optimism about the Mercedes W15, claiming it felt the best it had all year during Friday’s practice sessions. “So, yesterday was really strong,” Hamilton acknowledged. “As soon as we started qualifying, it’s like, I don’t know if it’s a turndown of performance, but the performance comes away from my car for some reason, so it’s frustrating we’re seventh.”
Hamilton further explained the situation, noting that despite driving the same way on both days, the car’s performance noticeably dropped during qualifying. He pointed to slight differences between the cars, such as Russell having an upgraded front wing, which provided better performance in high-speed corners. Still, these minor upgrades do not entirely explain the significant performance gap seen during qualifying.
The Challenge Ahead
With Monaco’s tight and twisty circuit making overtaking a formidable challenge, Hamilton is likely facing a difficult race. His seventh-place qualifying position means he will have to fight hard just to remain within the points-scoring positions. Reflecting on his missed opportunity, Hamilton seemed resigned to a rough Sunday, pondering what might have been if his practice pace had carried over to qualifying.
While this season has been a tough one, there is a silver lining for Hamilton. The iconic Brit will find himself in scarlet red next year, driving for Ferrari – a team currently showing strong performances. With Leclerc securing pole positions and consistent front-row starts, Hamilton will need to rediscover his Saturday magic to keep up with his future teammate in the 2025 season.
The pressure mounts for the F1 legend to turn around his qualifying performances as he transitions to one of the most competitive seats in motorsport history. Rediscovering his form will be crucial not just for his personal accolades but also for his new team’s championship aspirations.