F1 Qatar GP: Lewis Hamilton makes shock admission after the Mercedes star slumped to a disappointing...

Lewis Hamilton makes shock admission after the Mercedes star slumped to a disappointing showing in sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, offered a blunt reflection on his performance after struggling in sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix. Despite his illustrious career, Hamilton has faced a challenging 2024 season, and his difficulties continued at the Lusail circuit. He will start Saturday’s sprint race from a disappointing seventh position, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell delivered a strong performance to secure second on the grid, just behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Hamilton’s reaction to his qualifying session was one of frustration and resignation. In a rare moment of vulnerability, the 39-year-old admitted that he simply wasn’t fast enough. “Same as every other qualifying, not that great,” he said. “I’m just slow. Same every weekend. The car felt relatively decent. No issues, really. Not much more to say.” His candid assessment highlighted the ongoing challenges he has faced this season, particularly in qualifying sessions.

The Briton’s struggles have been a recurring theme throughout 2024. Despite his legendary status in the sport, Hamilton has repeatedly found himself outpaced by Russell, who is in his second season with Mercedes. The head-to-head qualifying record between the two drivers now stands at 17-5 in Russell’s favor, a significant gap that Hamilton has been unable to close. This pattern has extended to sprint races as well, where Hamilton has also found it difficult to match Russell’s pace.

When asked whether his recent struggles could be attributed to the car, Hamilton responded with uncertainty, stating, “Who knows? I’m definitely not fast anymore.” His self-criticism reflected a growing frustration as he continues to grapple with his performance. Despite having a car that has shown competitive speed at times, Hamilton has struggled to translate that into strong qualifying results, particularly compared to his younger teammate.

The Lusail track in Qatar did not offer any relief for Hamilton, who has grown increasingly accustomed to starting from the middle of the grid in recent races. While his long-run pace has often been solid, allowing him to make up positions during the race, starting from the back end of the top 10 has made it difficult for him to compete for victories. “When you’re always back where I am, it makes it very hard to be competing—well, almost impossible, pretty much—to be competing for wins from there,” Hamilton remarked.

Despite his struggles, Hamilton remained optimistic about his team’s prospects for the rest of the weekend. “The positive is the car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow,” he said. Mercedes has shown flashes of competitiveness this season, but Hamilton’s difficulties in qualifying have often left him playing catch-up on race day.

Hamilton’s remarks came as he prepares for what is expected to be his final season with Mercedes before making a high-profile switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season. His time with Mercedes has been marked by unprecedented success, including six of his seven world championships. However, the 2024 season has seen him consistently outpaced by his younger teammate, leading to growing speculation about how his impending move to Ferrari will affect his career trajectory.

While Hamilton’s recent results have been far from what he is accustomed to, the Briton remains a fierce competitor. As he lines up seventh for the Qatar sprint race, he will be looking to make the most of the opportunity, even if his chances of victory seem slim from that starting position. However, with the sprint format offering fewer laps and less time to recover, Hamilton’s task will be a challenging one.

As the season winds down and his time at Mercedes nears its end, Hamilton’s focus will be on salvaging strong results and preparing for the next chapter of his career. Whether or not he can regain his qualifying form remains to be seen, but his candid reflections suggest he is acutely aware of the challenges ahead.