P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton blames wind for Q1 error in “knife-edge” Mercedes
Just hours after achieving his best result of the season by finishing second in the Shanghai sprint, Lewis Hamilton faced a setback as he failed to advance from the first session of qualifying due to a braking error at Turn 14, ending up in 18th place on the grid. Hamilton took full responsibility for the mistake, acknowledging that it was his own error and not a fault of the car. Despite the emotional rollercoaster of the day, Hamilton remained unfazed, attributing the mishap to the nature of racing and the fine margins involved. Reflecting on the team’s decision to make significant changes in setup following the sprint race, Hamilton noted the bold experimentation that ultimately did not yield the desired results in qualifying. His teammate, George Russell, highlighted the team’s shared direction in adjustments and emphasized the long-term goals of striving for victories and championships, even if it meant sacrificing short-term gains. Russell made it into Q3, securing 8th on the grid, but lamented the need to use extra tires in Q2 due to a red flag incident, illustrating the fine margins and competitive nature of Formula 1 racing.
