P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari’s first combined non-score in a Formula 1 sprint race since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix laid bare what Lewis Hamilton described as a “fight like you couldn’t believe” for its drivers in trying to tame their tricky car.
The 2021 Qatar Grand Prix marked Ferrari’s first non-scoring Formula 1 sprint race since the Italian Grand Prix, revealing a significant struggle for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to control their challenging car. Hamilton, starting from the pitlane due to setup changes, could only manage 17th place, while Leclerc dropped from ninth to finish 13th after a series of incidents. This result at Qatar was the first race since Monza 2021 where Ferrari did not score sprint points, highlighting the lack of success for the team. Both drivers faced handling issues, with Hamilton describing the car’s instability, sliding, snapping, bouncing, and mid-corner understeer, making it a tough battle for them both. Leclerc also experienced difficulties, finding it incredibly tough to drive the car and losing positions due to handling problems, despite identical settings to qualifying. The stark contrast in performance from qualifying to the race left both drivers perplexed and struggling to find explanations for their challenging race day in Qatar.
