A defiant Lewis Hamilton has fired back at his critics after another challenging qualifying session, confidently stating, “I know I’ve still got it. It’s not a question in my mind.” The seven-time world champion once again found himself trailing behind his younger teammate, George Russell, who qualified in second place but was later promoted to pole position following Max Verstappen’s penalty for impeding Russell during their final flying laps.
Hamilton, who qualified in sixth place, was 0.436 seconds slower than Russell, a frustrating performance that followed a similar result in the sprint race earlier in the day, where he finished sixth after starting seventh. Despite the disappointing results, Hamilton remained defiant, insisting that his speed was still intact. “I know I’ve still got it,” he said, emphasizing that his struggles weren’t a reflection of his ability, but rather the limitations of the car.
The qualifying results highlighted a troubling pattern: Russell has now outqualified Hamilton 23 times out of 29 this season, a statistic Hamilton didn’t shy away from discussing. When asked about his pace, Hamilton admitted, “I mean, I’m slow, about half a second off my teammate in the same car,” but he remained resolute in his belief that his talent hasn’t faded. “It’s been all year,” he added, acknowledging the ongoing struggle with the car’s performance.
Hamilton’s comments have led many to question whether he feels he’s being given a fair chance at Mercedes, especially as he prepares for a highly anticipated move to Ferrari next season. “Just the car won’t go any faster,” he stated, hinting at his frustration with the team’s direction and his personal performance in a car that doesn’t suit his driving style.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s pole position dreams were dashed when he was handed a penalty for driving “unnecessarily slowly” and impeding Russell, paving the way for the Mercedes driver to take pole. Verstappen, who had originally qualified 0.055 seconds ahead of Russell, expressed his surprise at the decision but remained upbeat, celebrating the team’s progress despite the setback.
As the Qatar Grand Prix approaches, McLaren is also in the spotlight, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both positioning themselves for a potential constructors’ title win. With McLaren needing just 15 points to clinch the championship, the team is set to close out the season in style, making it a dramatic finish to a season full of unexpected twists and turns.
