P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton’s claim about his qualifying expectations for the rest of the F1 season relative to George Russell made for a surprising and intriguing sub-plot. Did he succumb to paranoia – even if only briefly – or was this just a reflection of a competitive mindset?
During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton surprised many by admitting that he does not expect to outqualify his team-mate George Russell for the rest of 2024. Hamilton had been leading in practice sessions but Russell took the lead in qualifying, extending his advantage over Hamilton in 2024. Hamilton made pessimistic post-qualifying comments suggesting a decrease in his car’s performance. He hinted at possible frustration towards Mercedes losing competitiveness. Despite Hamilton’s remarks, he did not clarify further post-race, emphasizing pushing for upgrades and team progression. The situation in Monaco was likely due to Russell having a faster car spec, not Mercedes favoring one driver over the other.
