Disastrous Qatar F1 race “could have been worse”

Lewis Hamilton endured a torrid run to twelfth place within the Qatar Grand Prix in an understeering Mercedes, though a number of the injury was self-inflicted owing to a false begin and a pitlane rushing penalty.

Hamilton additionally picked up a puncture mid-race and, within the remaining laps, requested the crew if he might ‘field’ the automobile and retire – solely to alter his thoughts when he acquired the go-ahead.

“It might have been worse, however I completed and it is over,” he stated. “That was me in the beginning. After which the puncture was actually unlucky. And the pitlane, that was me as effectively.

“I will do my greatest, however I will get again up tomorrow and provides it one other shot.”  

Hamilton began sixth, together with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell on pole. Regardless of leaping the beginning, Hamilton misplaced positions to Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso on the opening lap.

Each Mercedes drivers started to complain about what crew boss Toto Wolff later known as “horrendous understeer” and, though Hamilton handed Alonso to run eighth after the primary Security Automotive restart, he slipped again from the main pack and was unable to problem Perez.

On lap 34 he picked up a front-left puncture similtaneously Ferrari’s Sainz, resulting in hypothesis that each have been attributable to a particles area left on the primary straight when Valtteri Bottas ran over a wing mirror which had fallen off Alex Albon’s Williams.

Nonetheless, each Hamilton and Sainz have advised that different objects, comparable to gravel and kerbs, might have performed an element for the reason that front-left tyres – closely confused on this circuit – have been on the restrict of damage at this level within the race.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

Hamilton served his five-second penalty at his pitstop however was then handed a drive-through penalty for rushing when the security automobile led the sphere by the pitlane. This dropped him to the penultimate place, from the place he finally recovered to twelfth place, regardless of placing in a request to the pitwall to retire the automobile.

“We did not get the wing setting proper,” he stated. “It is occurred many instances. Yeah, simply principally not having sufficient entrance wing within the automobile, and the automobile simply would not flip.

“So I used to be simply understeering massively for an extended time frame. And actually, for me, it felt like that is what led to the tyre failing. Perhaps it was particles. I did not see any particles, to be trustworthy, however it’s not perfect. It occurred simply as I acquired to the pitlane entry.”

Hamilton doesn’t count on any change in end result at this weekend’s remaining grand prix of the season, in Abu Dhabi, the place he shall be leaving the crew with which he has received six world championships.

“I do not assume we will find yourself in a excessive,” he stated. “It’ll finish and I feel what’s essential is how we flip up, we give it our greatest shot.

“I do not anticipate a very a lot better weekend than we have had prior to now weekends, however naturally I will attempt. Go in with low hopes and possibly come out with a greater consequence – it does not actually make a giant distinction both manner.

“It has been a rollercoaster journey of feelings and I am simply grateful I am nonetheless standing and I am nonetheless OK. I’ve had nice races in my life and I’ve had unhealthy races in my life. Not too many unhealthy ones.”