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Same Saturday as always” – Lewis Hamilton makes familiar “tyres didn’t work” complaint
Lewis Hamilton faced another disappointing Saturday at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where tyre temperature issues during qualifying left him only seventh on the grid.
It was a familiar scenario for Hamilton, who has repeatedly struggled with similar problems during qualifying sessions this season. In Baku, he found himself 0.4 seconds behind his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, who outperformed him to secure a better position on the starting grid.
This marked a significant moment in Hamilton’s illustrious career, as it was only the second time since 2014 that he has been outqualified by a teammate in a head-to-head comparison over a season. Hamilton’s past successes in Formula 1 have typically seen him dominate qualifying, making this new trend of struggling against his teammate a notable shift. The fact that Russell has consistently had the upper hand on Saturdays adds to the mounting pressure on Hamilton, especially given his high standards and expectations for himself.
After qualifying, Hamilton was brief in his remarks, telling Sky Sports, “Same Saturday as always.” When asked to elaborate on his performance, he reiterated that the problems were the same ones he had been facing all season.
“Yesterday the car was amazing, felt great. Honestly, I think it could have been at least second row today. Came today, the tyres didn’t work all day,” Hamilton added, expressing frustration at the recurring issue with tyre performance on Saturdays.
Hamilton’s comments point to a fundamental issue that has been affecting him throughout the season: an inability to get his tyres up to the right temperature during qualifying. Tyre temperature plays a crucial role in a car’s overall performance, especially during qualifying laps where every fraction of a second counts.
If tyres are too cold, they don’t generate enough grip, resulting in slower lap times. Hamilton’s struggle to find the right balance has been a recurring theme, and in Baku, it cost him a higher grid position.
Sky Sports pundit Bernie Collins weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Hamilton may have been caught out by a sudden drop in track temperature. Collins, a former performance engineer, explained that Mercedes tried different strategies with their outlaps, but it appeared that Hamilton is particularly sensitive to changes in track conditions. “I think four-tenths off George, he will be really unhappy with that because the first person you’re compared to is your teammate,” Collins remarked.
Collins further pointed out that during the qualifying session, track conditions changed significantly, particularly in Q3 when the temperature dropped. This sudden change likely affected Hamilton’s ability to heat his tyres properly, while Russell seemed to handle the situation more effectively. According to Collins, Hamilton had complained throughout the session about the tyre temperature, which may have been a critical factor in his underperformance.
Mercedes, like all teams, faces the constant challenge of balancing tyre temperature with overall car performance. In qualifying, drivers typically do several outlaps, which are slower laps meant to bring the tyres up to the optimal temperature before attempting a fast lap.
Collins noted that while Mercedes experimented with different approaches to the outlaps and dealt with traffic on the track, they didn’t quite manage to get everything right. As a result, Hamilton was unable to extract the full potential of the car, and his lap times suffered.
The drop in track temperature during Q3 was particularly problematic. Formula 1 cars are extremely sensitive to even small changes in temperature, and colder track conditions can significantly reduce tyre grip.
For Hamilton, this may have been the key factor in his struggles. Collins speculated that Hamilton’s driving style or setup may make him more sensitive to these conditions compared to Russell, who seemed less affected.
For Hamilton, the 2024 season has been particularly challenging on Saturdays, with qualifying becoming a recurring issue.
While his race performances have generally been stronger, the difficulties in qualifying have often left him starting further down the grid than he would like, making his races more difficult. Despite his vast experience and success in the sport, the tyre temperature problem continues to be a thorn in his side.
Russell’s consistent performances, meanwhile, have highlighted the contrast between the two Mercedes drivers this season. Russell, who joined Mercedes in 2022, has been steadily improving and seems to have found a way to extract more from the car during qualifying sessions.
His ability to adapt to changing conditions and manage tyre temperatures has given him an edge over Hamilton on several occasions, adding to the competitive dynamic within the team.
In summary, Hamilton’s struggles at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix were part of a broader pattern seen throughout the 2024 season.
His inability to get the tyres working properly during qualifying has been a persistent issue, and in Baku, it cost him a better grid position. With Russell consistently outqualifying him, Hamilton faces the challenge of addressing this recurring problem as the season progresses. For now, however, it remains “the same Saturday as always” for the seven-time world champion.
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