We Need To Apologize': Mercedes Issue Apology To Lewis Hamilton After...

We Need To Apologize’: Mercedes Issue Apology To Lewis Hamilton After…read more.

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, is experiencing a challenging farewell weekend with Mercedes as he prepares to transition to Ferrari after several successful seasons with the team. Unfortunately, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session did not unfold as Hamilton had hoped, leading to significant disappointment for both him and the Mercedes team.

During the qualifying rounds, a crucial incident occurred when a marker pole became lodged in Hamilton’s car. This unforeseen event caused him to be eliminated in Q3, resulting in a disappointing 18th-place starting position for the race. Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the mistake and issued a public apology to Hamilton, emphasizing the team’s commitment to providing him with a memorable send-off.

Wolff’s apology came after Hamilton’s final qualifying session with Mercedes was marred by a strategic blunder. The team had opted to send Hamilton out late in the session, a decision that ultimately backfired. Wolff expressed regret over the risk taken, stating, “We shouldn’t have been risking so much,” referring to the lack of margin for error in their strategy.

The unfortunate sequence of events began when Hamilton, who had shown promising pace throughout the practice sessions, found himself among the five drivers eliminated in the opening part of qualifying. The situation was exacerbated when a marker pole, dislodged by Kevin Magnussen’s car, obstructed Hamilton as he attempted his final lap. This incident not only thwarted his chances of advancing but also highlighted the misjudgments made by the team during the session.

Wolff reiterated the team’s disappointment, saying, “We need to apologize to Lewis and everyone in the team who has worked so hard to deliver a great final weekend for him here in Abu Dhabi.” He acknowledged Hamilton’s strong performance in practice and expressed regret for letting him down at such a crucial moment. The decision to delay sending the drivers out was a pivotal error that Hamilton and the team had to grapple with.

Despite the setback in qualifying, Hamilton is scheduled to start 16th on the grid for the race due to penalties imposed on other drivers, which gives him a slightly better position than originally anticipated. Meanwhile, his teammate George Russell qualified seventh but will begin the race in sixth position after