Frustration for Hamilton as Mercedes Tyre Issues Continue in Azerbaijan Qualifying…

Lewis Hamilton has once again criticized Mercedes’ tyres following another disappointing qualifying session. The British driver will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 7th place after a challenging Saturday, despite having shown promise in practice.

Hamilton expressed his frustration, noting a recurring issue: “It’s the same story every Saturday. Yesterday, the car felt fantastic and I believed we could have secured at least a spot on the second row. But today, the tyres just didn’t perform as expected.”

This is not the first time Hamilton has voiced dissatisfaction with his qualifying results, having also been unhappy with his performance in Monza two weeks ago. After that session, he vented his frustration, saying, “I’m furious because I could have been on pole or at least on the front row. I lost time in key sections, and it’s entirely my fault. Qualifying has been a weak spot for me recently, and I can’t seem to get it right.”

Despite Hamilton’s frustration, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff offered some perspective, explaining that minor errors can drastically affect performance. “A small mistake can be the difference between second place and fifth. For Lewis, it’s often these small mistakes that impact his position.”

Hamilton did manage to recover from his poor qualifying performance in Monza, finishing 5th and earning ten championship points. He currently sits 6th in the drivers’ standings as he heads into his final season with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari.

In contrast, teammate George Russell was more measured in his comments after qualifying. He acknowledged his less-than-ideal performance in practice but felt more comfortable in qualifying. He noted the strong performance of Ferrari on certain tracks, particularly in Baku, Monaco, and Singapore, and emphasized the need for Mercedes to understand and address the factors contributing to Ferrari’s advantage.