Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok saw something ‘interesting’ from Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola this Saturday.
The travelling circus of Formula 1 hit Italy for the first of two visits in 2024 this weekend. But qualifying did not get off to a faultless start for Hamilton as the Mercedes driver continues a quest to kick-start his season. It has been the worst start to a campaign in his career to date.
Hamilton is still yet to finish a Grand Prix higher than the P6 he achieved last time out at the Miami GP. His previous worst start to a season through six rounds came in 2009 with a best result of P4. This year and 2009 are Hamilton’s sole seasons without a podium in six rounds.
Lewis Hamilton’s pace in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna GP surprised Karun Chandhok
His wait for a maiden rostrum this season may continue beyond the Emilia Romagna GP, too. Hamilton would only set the seventh-fastest time in FP1 with a 1:17.408, the fourth-best lap in FP2 at 1:16.297 and the 17th-best in FP3 at 1:16.960, and his woe continued in qualifying.
Mercedes saw Hamilton start Q1 with just a 1:16.719 on a set of soft compound Pirelli tyres. His time was also slower than the initial 1:16.645 benchmark lap time that Esteban Ocon set for Alpine. The 39-year-old even only managed to improve to a 1:16.604 to progress in 15th.
READ MORE: 5 unforgettable Emilia Romagna GP moments, with Bottas and Russell’s crash
Hamilton’s early plight in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna GP surprised Chandhok at Imola. The ex-HRT driver expected to see more from the seven-time drivers’ champion. Hamilton would even only make it into Q2 by a margin of 0.022 seconds to Sauber star Valtteri Bottas.
“Hamilton, only [a] 16.7 on a set of softs for his first lap,” Chandhok told Sky Sports F1 (18/5, 15:05). So, that’s interesting to see.”
Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton has struggled in qualifying throughout 2024
Hamilton’s woes were not his alone in the Mercedes garage in Q1 at the Emilia Romagna GP, either. George Russell also only managed to post the 10th-fastest lap time with his 1:16.107, albeit 0.497s faster than Hamilton. He ended Q1 between the Alpines plus Daniel Ricciardo.
Mercedes’ lack of pace around Imola only adds to Hamilton’s disappointing start to the year. The Stevenage-born racer did not qualify higher than P7 over the first six Grand Prix in 2024 with a personal-best at the Japanese GP. Hamilton also bowed out in Q1 once and Q2 twice.
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