In what seems like the twilight of his illustrious career, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has openly admitted, “I’m definitely not fast anymore.” The remark followed another challenging qualifying session at the Qatar Grand Prix, where Hamilton qualified seventh for the sprint race, trailing teammate George Russell by 0.399 seconds.
Hamilton, set to join Ferrari next season, described his performance as consistently disappointing: “Same as every other qualifying – not that great. I’m just slow.” Despite holding the record for most pole positions in F1 history (104), Hamilton has struggled to match Russell’s pace this season.
Season Comparisons
Hamilton has been out-qualified by Russell in 17 of 22 races, excluding sprint qualifiers. On average, Russell has been 0.16 seconds faster per lap over the season. This marks a sharp contrast to Hamilton’s previous dominance against teammates throughout his career.
Looking Ahead with Ferrari
As Hamilton prepares to join Ferrari in 2024, he will partner with Charles Leclerc, widely regarded as one of the fastest drivers over a single lap. This move could provide Hamilton with a fresh start, but questions remain about whether the F1 legend can regain his edge against younger talent.
What’s Next for Hamilton?
Hamilton remains pragmatic about his chances in upcoming races: “When you are always back where I am, it makes it almost impossible to compete for wins.” However, he expressed hope for Mercedes’ potential: “The positive is the car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.”
As fans prepare for the Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton’s candid admission signals a pivotal moment in his career. Whether Ferrari can help him recapture his form remains to be seen.
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