"Just my luck": Lewis Hamilton reflects on missed opportunity in final Mercedes qualifying session after struggling behind Alpine in Abu Dhabi
Lewis Hamilton will start his last-ever race for the Mercedes F1 team in P18 after the Briton was eliminated in the Q1 session following a messy final lap. The seven-time champion detailed the issues he faced during the final lap in Q1 and the factors that restrained him from taking part in qualifying further.
Lewis Hamilton was asked whether he could've done anything different during the qualifying session. He said (via F1TV live):
“No, just my luck. But, it’s ok! I tried, we tried so hard with the setup, we got the car in a great place. It was looking good in FP3 so I was really thinking maybe a podium is really possible this weekend but timing was not optimised for the session, I was the last one on the track and ended up behind one of the Alpines right at the end. I just ran out of time.”
Lewis Hamilton was on the brink of elimination before the final runs in Q1. Additionally, he was sent out at a suboptimal time by his team who left it too late with Peter Bonnington hurrying Hamilton to start the lap. When Hamilton did start the lap, a traffic jam clogged up the final few corners.
The Mercedes driver was stuck behind an Alpine for the final lap and the dirty air effect made it impossible for Hamilton to make it into Q2. However, another factor seemed to have played a major role in the Brit's underwhelming qualifying.
Before starting the final lap, Kevin Magnussen went off the track limits and hit a bollard. The same was collected by Hamilton's Mercedes and it was stuck onto the front of the floor. The seven-time champion dragged the bollard around the track for the entirety of his final Q1 lap.
“I'll try and come back”: Lewis Hamilton determined to move up the grid after disappointing qualifying run
Lewis Hamilton's final race with Mercedes is bound to be a long one as the Brit's P18 start means he will have to climb and make his way through the grid. However, the Mercedes driver is positive about the pace of the car and will try to make his way back to the points.
Lewis Hamilton said, (via Sky Sports)
"I've tried, we've tried so hard with the setup.. we thought maybe a podium was possible this weekend. To go from P1, P2 [in practice] to then be in 18th, it definitely changes the look into the weekend but I'm trying to be present, the team have been great. My hopes are high, it is what it is, I'll try and come back.”
The two massively long straights at the Yas Marina circuit should help Lewis Hamilton overtake his opponents as he tries to move up the grid.