P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was downbeat after Sprint Qualifying for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, claiming “I’m definitely not fast anymore.”
In 2024, Mercedes team-mate George Russell has been dominating Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, leading 17 to 5 in GP and 5 to 1 in Sprint Qualifying sessions. Hamilton expressed disappointment in his ongoing struggles, citing feeling slow and consistent underperformance. Despite a strong showing in Las Vegas practice, a qualifying error placed Hamilton 10th on the grid, impacting his race performance. Hamilton has already ruled himself out of contention for Sprint victory in Qatar, emphasizing the challenge of competing for wins from a lower grid position. Meanwhile, Russell remains optimistic about his performance, narrowly missing Sprint pole and aiming for victory at the Lusail International Circuit without the pressure of a Constructors’ title fight.
