Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG in Formula 1, expressed that he is not overly concerned about the ongoing struggles he faces to unlock the full potential of his car during qualifying sessions. Despite being the most successful qualifier in the sport’s history, with an incredible 104 pole positions, Hamilton has been struggling to keep up with his teammate George Russell in the current season, trailing him by 7-1 in direct comparisons. While he has shown flashes of speed during practice sessions, Hamilton has not been able to translate that into strong qualifying performances, as was evident in the recent Monaco Grand Prix, where he dropped to seventh on the grid. However, Hamilton remains optimistic that he will be able to improve his qualifying form and is confident in his race performances to make up for any deficiencies in qualifying.
Hamilton acknowledged that his qualifying performances have been below expectations since the end of last year and throughout this season. Despite this, he remains focused on improvement and is not overly concerned about his current struggles. He believes there are still many races ahead in the season to rectify the situation and enhance both his own performance and the car’s performance. Hamilton values his race day performances, which have remained strong, and sees them as an alternative option for now.
Although Mercedes is currently not in a position to compete for wins or podiums, Hamilton’s motivation remains unchanged. He emphasized that he still finds pleasure in racing and considers it a priority in his life. He loves the challenges that come with the sport and is constantly motivated by the people around him. Hamilton believes that being at a racetrack is always exciting and never boring, except maybe on Thursdays when there are no races. Overall, he appreciates the physical and mental challenges of racing, as well as the constantly changing dynamics of teamwork and the sport itself. Progression is a key aspect for Hamilton, and although it is not always achieved, he sees it as an essential part of the journey.