Lewis Hamilton F1 News: Mercedes star brutally honest in 'disastrous' Austrian GP verdict

Lewis Hamilton and Charlotte Davies — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

Hamilton brutally honest in ‘DISASTROUS’ Austrian GP verdict

The Mercedes star endured a difficult Friday in Austria

Kevin McKenna

Friday 28 June 2024 20:58

Lewis Hamilton has delivered a brutally honest verdict on his sprint qualifying performance at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Coming into this weekend, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion was looking to build on an impressive performance in Barcelona, where he came home third to secure his first podium finish of the campaign.

F1 HEADLINES: Horner admits Red Bull penalty blow as F1 champion suffers turmoil in Austria

Article continues under video

It was a rare highlight in what has largely been a season of disappointments for the Brit so far, and hopes were high coming into the weekend at the Red Bull Ring that he and his team may have turned a corner.

Despite a promising showing in free practice, Hamilton had his lap deleted at the start of SQ1, with an early elimination from proceedings a possibility at that stage.

The 39-year-old recovered to make it through to SQ3, but could only finish P6 as he struggled to match the pace of his rivals.

Lewis Hamilton finished P3 behind Lando Norris at last week's Spanish GP

Max Verstappen finished ahead of the McLaren duo in sprint qualifying at the Red Bull Ring

Lewis Hamilton's sprint qualifying assessment

Hamilton was almost six-tenths shy of reigning world champion Max Verstappen who will start Saturday's F1 sprint at the front of the grid, ahead of McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the session, Hamilton cut a dejected figure after failing to deliver a quick time when it mattered most.

"I wasn't in the mix at all, the whole session was pretty disastrous from our point of view," the Mercedes star brutally reflected.