Lewis Hamilton says he has “nonetheless bought it” after a disappointing qualifying efficiency on the Qatar Grand Prix.
Hamilton begins Sunday’s race sixth after setting a lap 0.436 seconds slower than team-mate George Russell, who begins from pole.
Russell certified second to Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen however was promoted because the Dutchman for driving too slowly and impeding the Mercedes.
“Simply the automobile will not go any sooner,” Hamilton mentioned. “I positively know I’ve bought it nonetheless. It isn’t a query in my thoughts.”
Hamilton, the all-time Formulation 1 report holder for pole positions, has now been overwhelmed 18-5 by Russell in grand prix qualifying classes this 12 months.
The determine is 22-6 if all six qualifying classes for dash occasions are included.
Hamilton was at a loss to clarify why he’s struggling to match Russell this 12 months over one lap.
“I am sluggish,” he mentioned. “I am half a second off my team-mate in the identical automobile.
“It wasn’t a tough session. My laps had been fairly respectable, simply half a second off.
“I set my automobile up a bit of bit totally different in the present day and actually the automobile felt nice. It’s the first time we now have made a set-up change and the automobile felt good.
“My laps are usually actually good and I come throughout the road and that’s half a second down.”
He added: “[I’m] wanting ahead to the tip [of the season].”
Hamilton’s remarks come a day after he mentioned following qualifying for the dash occasion in Qatar that he was .
Hamilton is leaving Mercedes on the finish of 2024, after 12 years with the staff, to maneuver to Ferrari.
Russell mentioned he anticipated an in depth struggle between the highest 4 groups within the grand prix, which begins at 16:00 GMT.
The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who gained the dash occasion in Qatar, locked out the second row. Hamilton in sixth is sandwiched between the Ferraris of his future team-mate Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Russell mentioned: “It is going to be thrilling. It is going to be a extremely shut struggle between all 4 groups. Ferrari appeared on the identical tempo as Lando and myself this morning.
“McLaren have extra choices on the technique with two automobiles however their race is with Ferrari not us and Max. It’s an incredible circuit and I simply can’t wait to go racing.”
McLaren can clinch the constructors’ championship for the primary time since 1998 in the event that they end first and second with the purpose for quickest lap.
Piastri gained the dash race on Saturday after Norris handed him the win on the run to the road.
Norris had managed the pack all through the occasion to make sure Piastri had the benefit of use of the DRS overtaking help to maintain him simply far sufficient forward of Russell to stop the Mercedes from passing.
Norris mentioned: “I am not that assured [for the grand prix]. George was faster than us within the dash race, we aren’t as fast because the Mercedes which can make our life very tough tomorrow.
“I do not count on something particular. I feel the clear air that I had earlier in the present day [in the sprint] made us look most likely a bit higher than we had been.
“I do not suppose we have essentially been the quickest to be sincere this weekend. I feel Mercedes have.
“So anticipating a tricky battle and excited to see what we are able to do. I wish to give the fellows forward a bit of battle and naturally go ahead. Our goal could be to try to win the race however these two guys [Verstappen and Russell] are most likely going to make my life fairly robust tomorrow.”
