In a surprising turn of events at the Austrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton’s sprint qualifying session took a disappointing turn, leaving the seasoned driver reflecting on a series of unfortunate laps.
After securing sixth place for the upcoming sprint race, Hamilton expressed his frustrations with the session, calling it ‘disastrous’ and highlighting the ‘very bad laps’ that defined his performance. The seven-time champion didn’t mince words when he acknowledged that he ‘wasn’t in the mix at all.’
During the session, Hamilton’s troubles began early with a massive slide in SQ1 that led to a deleted lap time. It wasn’t until the final moments of the session that he managed to set a lap time good enough for 11th place, just scraping through.
As the session progressed to SQ3, Hamilton teamed up with his Mercedes teammate George Russell, staying tight to his rear wing while leaving the pit lane. Despite their efforts, both drivers found themselves quickly outpaced by Max Verstappen and the McLarens. Russell took fourth place, while Hamilton settled for sixth, with Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari slipping in between them.
Hamilton’s focus now shifts to the upcoming Grand Prix, acknowledging that overtaking at this particular track isn’t easy. ‘I don’t think overtaking is mega here,’ he noted, adding that the emphasis would be on securing a better qualifying spot for Sunday’s main event. He remained determined to give his best effort despite the hurdles.
It’s clear that the Mercedes team has some work ahead of them to refine their strategy and performance. Nevertheless, Hamilton’s resilient mindset and experience will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the upcoming race sessions.
With the sprint qualifying behind him, Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for the main event, looking to turn the tide in his favor. The challenging session may serve as a learning opportunity, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense contest at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Source: Planetf1
