P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes offers reason for Hamilton qualifying struggles
According to Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, Lewis Hamilton has been struggling in qualifying sessions due to the car’s fiddliness and the difficulty of getting through Q1 and Q2. The car’s setup needs to be perfect, or else Hamilton can struggle throughout the session. In the past, drivers could easily secure a good grid position with just one lap in the middle of the session, but that is no longer the case. Hamilton’s focus on maximizing points in races has also affected his qualifying performance, as he may be sacrificing qualifying pace for better race pace. Shovlin believes that the W14 car is generally in a good position for races, but understanding the tires and performing under pressure in qualifying is a challenge for Hamilton.
Source: RacingNews 365
