Lewis Hamilton said he was “battling factors beyond my control” as his qualifying battle continued at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Hamilton was despondent after finishing seventh in Friday’s sprint qualifying, five places and a significant four-tenths of a second behind his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
After a strong start saw him finish 6th in the sprint, Hamilton was once again disappointed later in Saturday’s Grand Prix qualifying as he finished sixth, Russell once again second and an even bigger time was left.
Hamilton, who is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari at the end of the season, admitted he was delighted that next weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi would be his final qualifying session in the W15.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Important events of Qatar Grand Prix qualification.
“I can’t explain why I’m half a second behind my teammate,” said the seven-time world champion Sky Sports F1 after qualifying on Saturday. “It’s never happened in my career, so I can’t explain it.
“What I can say is that the car felt really good to me. I really gave it everything and the car feels good, but it’s slow.”
Russell, who won last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix from Hamilton, now holds a 23-6 advantage over his team-mate in both qualifying races this season.
On Friday night, Hamilton said he was “definitely not fasting” and was asked Sky Sports F1 after Saturday’s Sprint to clarify his comments.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
After struggling in sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton admits his car is not the problem and that he is “just slow”.
“I’m not trying to say anything. That’s how I felt on Friday. I wake up and try again the next day,” he said.
“I haven’t felt great in the car all year. The most inconsistent car I’d say all year, just in terms of up and down balance all year.
“Nothing we’ve done has fixed that. I know I still have the ability and I know I’m still fast and I’m fighting against factors that are out of my control.
“I’m looking forward to the end of next week because, yeah, and moving on.”
What did Hamilton’s “secret” comments mean?
Sky Sports F1 Anthony Davidson asked if Hamilton’s “factors” were something technical on the car, or a reference to the 39-year-old admitting his skills are on the wane.
Davidson said. “It’s a bit of a mystery, really. I can’t figure out what he means.
“Either technically in a car, a car he hasn’t caught since the 2021 era, cars of that generation. He obviously didn’t have a lot of these new cars in qualifying against George.
“Or, dare I say it, he’s talking about age, it’s a secret.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch future teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc go wheel-to-wheel in the Qatar GP Sprint.
“I’ve been through it myself as a driver. I’m retired now, I’m shorter than him. But I felt my speed was running as a driver.
“The first thing that left me was that it didn’t happen anymore. The next thing that happened was stupid mistakes that kept happening to me. I think that’s when I felt like a driver hang up my helmet.
Sky Sports F1 2009 world champion Jenson Button has backed his former team-mate to bounce back from disappointment.
“It’s sad to see him so weakened. I know Lewis well and he’s coming back pretty quickly.
“The last three races have been really tough and spiraling. It’s a mental game. All these drivers are super talented, but when your head isn’t in the game, it doesn’t work.”
Sky Sports F1 live Qatar GP schedule
Sunday December 1
10.55: Second F1 Academy race
12.15: F2 feature race
14.30. Grand Prix Sunday. Qatar GP Rally
16:00 Qatar Grand Prix
18:00. Checkered flag. Qatar GP reaction
19:00: Ted’s notebook
Formula 1’s season-ending triple whammy continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW
