P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton once again qualified comfortably behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell in Qatar.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained Lewis Hamilton’s recent struggles, attributing them to the new regulations that came into effect in 2022. Due to the introduction of ground effects, Hamilton has faced challenges in maintaining consistent strong performances. Despite not winning in 2022 and 2023, Hamilton claimed victory twice this year in his home Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix. George Russell has shown superiority over Hamilton in the past three seasons, which has been particularly evident in recent races. Hamilton has been unable to match Russell’s pace in the final triple-header, with Russell even winning in Las Vegas. Starting from pole position in the Qatar Grand Prix, Russell outperformed Hamilton, who settled for sixth in qualifying. Wolff noted that the current F1 car era does not align with Hamilton’s driving style, particularly struggling with the car’s limits during qualifying laps. Despite these challenges, Wolff expressed confidence in Hamilton’s ability to excel in races, as seen in his impressive overtaking maneuvers in the previous week. Looking ahead, Wolff hopes for strong results from both Mercedes drivers in the upcoming races.
