Lewis Hamilton does not have a good Formula 1 season in his last year at MercedesHector Retamal/AFP
Published 04/20/2024 12:24
Seven-time Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton led the sprint race on the Shanghai circuit and finished in second place in the early hours of this Saturday (20). Hours later, however, the Mercedes driver did very poorly in qualifying for the Chinese GP and only starts in 18th place, in the race on Sunday (21) at 4am (BrasÃlia time).
“I should have gone through (to Q2) easily,” said the Mercedes driver. “It was my mistake. I had difficulty in turn 14, the car simply stalled”, added he, who was in Q1 for the first time since the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP.
Asked what changes he made to Mercedes after the sprint, Hamilton said there were several. “The car is very different, but I hope tomorrow (Sunday) will be a little better. I hope it rains tomorrow now. I need everyone to do the rain dance.”
Hamilton’s teammate George Russell will start eighth. In his opinion, Mercedes should fight for positions with McLaren and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. “Ferrari is a little ahead of us. “I think the fight is with McLaren and Fernando (Alonso).”
Alonso starts third, just behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Sergio Pérez. McLaren comes fourth, with Lando Norris, and fifth, with Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, from Ferrari, are in sixth and seventh, respectively.
