Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was downbeat after Sprint Qualifying for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, claiming “I’m definitely not fast anymore.”
Hamilton, the all-time record holder for F1 pole positions with 104 has been comprehensively outqualified by Mercedes team-mate George Russell in 2024.
Russell heads Hamilton 17 to five in GP qualifying and by taking second in Qatar’s Friday session, has a five-to-one advantage in Sprint Qualifying as well.
After finishing seventh and four tenths behind his team-mate, Hamilton rued yet another underwhelming qualifying performance.
“I’m just slow and [it’s the] same every, every weekend,” the Mercedes driver said.
“So, yeah, car felt relatively decent. No issues and not really much more to say.”
Last time out in Las Vegas, Hamilton looked supremely quick throughout practice before mistakes in qualifying landed him 10th on the grid.
After fighting through to second in Sin City, Hamilton claimed had he done his job in qualifying, winning in Vegas would have been a “breeze.”
That sentiment has carried over to Qatar, with Hamilton ruling himself out of contention for Sprint victory.
“When you’re always back where I am, it makes it very hard to be competing for, well, almost impossible, pretty much to be competing for wins from there.
“But that’s the Sprint, I’ll do what I can tomorrow [in GP qualifying].
“The positive is that a car is fast and, you know George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.”
Asked to pinpoint whether his qualifying struggles are car or driver-related, Hamilton replied “Who knows. I’m definitely not fast anymore.”
George Russell ‘felt really strong’ in Qatar Sprint Qualifying
The mood was far more positive on Russell’s side of the Mercedes garage after the #63 driver was beaten to Sprint pole by just 0.063s.
After coming second to McLaren’s Lando Norris, Russell said “Yeah, it was, felt really strong all session.
“The car was really great and this circuit is really one of the best, you know, when you get into the groove and that rhythm, it’s so fast.”
Following his win in Vegas, Russell implied he’s going for victory on Saturday at the Lusail International Circuit, without the burden of a Constructors’ title fight that concerns Norris and McLaren.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Russell said.
“We’re going for the big results. So, you know, we’ll try and make a good start. Of course, the Sprint is just, just a Sprint.
“You know, we need to put our focus on qualifying as well. And, yeah, so far, so good.”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton: F1 Las Vegas GP ‘would have been a breeze’ without qualifying blunder
