F1 News: Lewis Hamilton "Can't Pinpoint" Issues With Mercedes W14 After Early Qatar Shootout Exit
Lewis Hamilton has spoken to the media following his early exit from the Sprint Shootout in SQ2 leaving him starting from twelfth position on the grid for the Qatar GP Sprint Race later today.
The British driver was eliminated after having a lap time deleted due to track limits, an issue the majority of the drivers were struggling with throughout the session. However, it was later revealed that the time that had been deleted for Hamilton would have seen him eliminated anyway.
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Speaking to the media following the session, the seven-time champion reflected on the differences from yesterday when he had the third fastest time (after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's lap deletions). Hamilton explained:
"It was a lot different to yesterday. Yesterday, it felt pretty decent and then today, I don't know if it was the wind or the temperature being a lot hotter, but the balance was completely off or just completely different. And track limits - I had it mostly in Turn 13 with the changes they made, but it's alright."
When asked about the last minute changes made to the track due to extreme tyre wear and how he manages to adapt to situations like that, the Mercedes driver responded:
"Well, we've never had anything like that before going into Qualifying, but everyone is in the same boat. I just struggled quite a bit more with the balance, a lot of understeer. I can't really pinpoint why the car was the way it was."
The Sprint Race will take place in a few hours time with Oscar Piastri starting from pole position beside his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in second. The second row will be made up of Max Verstappen, who is going for the Drivers' Championship title, and Hamilton's teammate George Russell in third and fourth, respectively.
