P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is convinced that Lewis Hamilton’s consistent qualifying struggles are down to the current F1 cars rather than him losing his speed.
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions in F1 history with 103, but in 2024, he is trailing his teammate George Russell by 18-5. Despite voicing frustrations about his performance, Hamilton started 10th in the Las Vegas race while Russell secured another pole position and went on to win. Mercedes maintained their competitiveness at the Lusail International Circuit, where Russell took another pole after Max Verstappen’s penalty, but Hamilton finished sixth, admitting he felt “slow in general” during qualifying. Hamilton, a seven-time F1 champion, who will move to Ferrari in 2025, remains confident in his abilities, though team principal Toto Wolff acknowledges that Hamilton’s driving style may not be ideal for the current generation of cars. However, Wolff believes in Hamilton’s racecraft and expects him to make his way through the field, aiming for another strong team result in the upcoming main race.
