Lewis Hamilton bemoaned his again luck and felt he may have pushed for a podium in his closing race for Mercedes, just for his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying to finish in a disappointing Q1 exit after a dislodged bollard acquired trapped beneath his automotive.
The seven-time world champion was on his closing effort to place in a lap that might get him by means of to Q2 when he came across a sluggish Kevin Magnussen within the Haas.
The Dane, conscious Hamilton was arising behind him within the resort part, moved off the monitor and behind the kerbs to attempt to not block the Mercedes.
Nevertheless, in doing so, Magnussen struck the bollard that’s on the within apex, flinging it throughout the monitor simply as Hamilton arrived.
With no time to react, Hamilton ran over the bollard, and it acquired trapped beneath his automotive as he tried to complete the lap and was finally solely 18th quickest.
Clearly indignant in regards to the state of affairs and the dearth of tempo, Hamilton got here on the staff radio straight afterwards and mentioned: “That was dangerous man, Jesus”
Talking after his forgettable closing qualifying session for Mercedes, Hamilton revealed he had hoped a podium on Sunday may have been in his grasp.
“It is simply my luck, but it surely’s okay. You understand, I attempted, we tried so onerous with the set-up, we acquired the automotive in an incredible place, and it was wanting good in P3 [third practice],” he mentioned.
“So I used to be actually considering perhaps a podium is feasible this weekend and yeah, then timing was not optimised for the session. I used to be the final one on the monitor and clearly I ended up behind one of many Alpines proper ultimately so I simply ran out of time.
“I don’t have any feelings. I am fairly chill. We had this unlucky session and acquired the bollard beneath the automotive.
“I believe for me, I’ve simply been very current. I have been having fun with each second. I’ve acquired the automotive in a very good place.
“The set-up modifications we have making, the automotive has been utterly totally different to the final 5 races. This weekend it has been feeling actually nice, and so it’s unlucky.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
Magnussen defined the state of affairs when requested in regards to the bollard incident by Motorsport.com: “Lewis was coming very shut behind Bottas, I believe,” he mentioned.
“There was somebody coming and I let him previous, and I wasn’t conscious that Lewis was proper on his tail. They had been each pushing so I went onto the within of Flip 14 to get out of the way in which.”
Hamilton will transfer up the grid on account of penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon, one thing he admits he’s “actually grateful” for as he targets a memorable final race for his present squad.
“The tempo was respectable. It isn’t going to be straightforward to overhaul tomorrow. I’ve set to work on technique now and as a substitute of preventing for a podium let’s see how far I can get, if I can get into the highest 10, that might be wonderful,” he added.
“I imply, I’ll attempt…as I mentioned, the automotive’s been feeling respectable and to go from the P1, P2 the place I used to be at all times comparatively within the high 5 to the being 18th positively modifications the look into the weekend, however I I am nonetheless attempting to be actually current.
“I am nonetheless actually grateful the staff have been…the automotive’s been utterly totally different this weekend and it has been so, a lot nicer to drive and so my hopes are excessive however it’s what it’s, I will try to come again from there.”
Photographs from Abu Dhabi GP Observe & Qualifying
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Components 1
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
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