At the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton achieved his highest qualifying score of the 2024 Formula One season, although he still feels Mercedes “lost performance.”
For for the second time this year, the seven-time world champion outqualified teammate George Russell, as the Mercedes duo sealed out the second row of the grid in positions three and four. Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Lando Norris of McLaren, who finished on pole position, were three tenths behind Hamilton.
Additionally, since the United States Grand Prix last year, Hamilton had not finished in the top three in a regular qualifying session.
Mercedes has a tendency to start a weekend strongly in Friday practice this year, but then abruptly lose ground in qualifying. Hamilton thought his W15 had more pace, even though that wasn’t the case in Barcelona.
Hamilton remarked, “I still feel like I lost performance going into qualifying.” “Perspective is everything, so perhaps they just proceeded forward.
However, I really believe that there was a little bit more. But the car doesn’t like it when you start to push it. In actuality, the car feels really well when you leave a little margin. But we really suffer when you start to rely too much on it to try to squeeze out that additional lap time.
I believe the tires are the main culprit. As you can see, I was seven tenths down in P1 because of a blanket problem. Although it puts you a little behind schedule, we were able to resolve it for the upcoming sessions.
“Aside from that, I’m really appreciative that we’re up here because this is my best qualifying of the year.”
Hamilton was also quick to downplay his chances of challenging for a first victory in over two years on Sunday.
“I think it will be very difficult,” the 39-year-old said. “I think these two [Norris and Verstappen] will be very quick.
“Position is everything and also there’s two of us, so hopefully we can apply pressure as a team to both of the cars ahead in order to maybe play out something in strategy.
“It’s all about degradation tomorrow and how we look after the tyres. So we won’t know until we get into that first run.”
Hamilton added: “I think the bigger concern is probably the Ferraris behind us. Obviously we are all within half a tenth, I think, from third to fifth or sixth.
“They had an upgrade this weekend. I think their long run pace looked quite strong, so I think it’s more working together as a team and try and hold position at least.
“If we happen to have more pace available to us and we’re able to hold onto these guys, then it’s game on. But we really won’t know until tomorrow and degradation is always the key here.
“When you have a really good weekend, you can save your balance and the rear tyres. So that’s going to be key for tomorrow.”
