P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton was clearly downbeat after qualifying 11th for the second straight weekend in Abu Dhabi, labelling his recent Saturday
Lewis Hamilton’s recent struggles in qualifying continued in Abu Dhabi, as he suffered back-to-back exits in Q2 for the first time since 2014. Since the introduction of the ground effect rules in Formula 1 this year, Hamilton has struggled with Mercedes’ troubled machinery. He described the car as loose and unpredictable, with no setup changes seeming to make a difference. Missing out on significant mileage in FP2 due to red flags further hindered his performance. Hamilton admitted to being off all weekend and was confused by the disparity between his car and teammate George Russell’s. His starting position will hurt Mercedes’ chances in the fight for second in the Constructors’ Championship, but with his ability to make overtakes, there is still plenty to play for in the final race.
