Lewis Hamilton expressed regret to Ferrari following a disappointing qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Starting from ninth on the grid, Hamilton faced another challenging day, trailing his teammate Charles Leclerc by six positions and six-tenths of a second.
Despite Leclerc’s strong performance, Mercedes’ George Russell’s penalty moved him to second place.
Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari has been less than stellar. He secured his first win in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint but managed only seventh in Japan’s full-length race last weekend. The seven-time world champion candidly acknowledged his struggles, stating, “It’s just about my performance, poor performance,” to Sky Sports F1. “There’s no reasons. [I’m] just not doing the job.”
Speaking to Sky Italy, Hamilton apologised to the team at the factory, expressing deep regret for his underperformance. Despite holding records for most wins and podiums in Bahrain, he admitted feeling uncertain about resolving his current issues. “I’m just not doing a good enough job on my side,” he said. “I really don’t know [how to improve the situation]. I don’t have a lot of answers.”
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Max Verstappen also faced difficulties during qualifying, finishing seventh despite an impressive win at Suzuka last week. The reigning four-time champion revealed ongoing car issues in Sakhir and expressed doubts about clinching a fifth title this year. “It was tough all weekend,” Verstappen noted, citing brake problems and inconsistent grip as key concerns.
Verstappen pointed out that McLaren is not his main competitor this season due to a significant gap identified during winter testing. “If you look at the gap to McLaren, I’m not surprised,” he remarked. He acknowledged that throughout the season, they never truly had a chance against their rivals.
The challenges faced by both Hamilton and Verstappen highlight the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing. As they continue to navigate these hurdles, fans remain eager to see how these seasoned drivers will adapt and respond in upcoming races.