Lewis Hamilton Voices Frustration Over Mercedes W15 Inconsistency in Australian Grand Prix Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, expressed his frustration after an unexpected early exit during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Hamilton qualified in 11th place, failing to make it into Q3 after late improvements from Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll pushed him into the drop zone. The British driver admitted to feeling an “inconsistency” within the Mercedes W15, which he described as something that “really messes with the mind” following a strong performance in FP3 earlier in the day.
“We then go into qualifying and just another inconsistency within the car, it really messes with the mind.”
Reflecting on the session, Hamilton acknowledged the strengths of the Mercedes W15 but emphasized the challenges of unlocking its full potential. He noted the difficulty in understanding why the car’s performance varied from session to session, particularly after a promising showing in FP3.
“It felt great in P3, and it was strange because we were right there with these guys and we didn’t really understand why,” Hamilton told Sky F1 after the session.
Hamilton praised his teammate George Russell for securing seventh on the grid but remained pragmatic about his own performance, expressing determination to bounce back in the race.
“But George did a good job today. It is what it is, I just have to try and do a better job tomorrow.”
The impact of weather factors, such as wind, on the car’s performance was highlighted by Hamilton, who described the Mercedes W15 as being on a “knife edge.” He explained that changes in wind conditions during the day made the car more unstable, posing challenges in finding an optimal setup.
“I mean, I think our car is on a bit of a knife edge. I think in the afternoon here, the wind picks up, same as P2, our P1 was a bit better and then, when the wind picks up, the car becomes a lot more unstable.”
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton reiterated his confidence in the Mercedes team’s ability to address the issues and work towards improving the car’s stability and performance. He emphasized the need for continuous effort and collaboration to overcome the challenges faced during qualifying.
“This morning was nice. We found the wind and then as soon as wind picks up, it gets a little bit less stable.”
“It felt better in P3, so it’s not a great feeling for everyone in the team, but we’ll just keep working away.”
As Hamilton prepares for the race, he remains focused on delivering a strong performance and maximizing his chances of success despite the obstacles encountered during qualifying.
