Lewis Hamilton has identified why he struggled to optimise the performance of his W15 in Canada qualifying. Hamilton reveals that a lack of temperature in his tyres compromised his efforts. Ultimately, the 7-time Champion believes his lack-lustre result on Saturday is what cost him a chance to fight for the win.
F1 is a sport where fine margins always make the difference. However, in a season with several teams fighting for victory, the margin for error is even smaller.
Strategy, circuit layout, Safety Car timing, and set-up adjustments are some of the numerous variables that can tip the scales. For Hamilton, starting down in 7th – and thus spending several laps behind Alonso – meant that victory was beyond reach.
HAMILTON REVEALS TYRE ISSUES IN QUALIFYING
For the 39-year-old, an issue with his W15 prevented him from securing a better grid position.This is not the first time in 2024 that Hamilton has been unhappy after qualifying.
Speaking after the race, he explained why he struggled on Saturday:
“Well, the tyres were working throughout the weekend. Then we got to qualifying, and every time I went out of the garage, my tyres were for some reason below on temperature.
“Every set was two or three degrees lower than it should have been, and you can’t catch it up, and I couldn’t switch the tyres on after that.
“That’s something we have to really look at because something went on with the blankets, I guess.”
For such a basic element to cost Hamilton, especially in the context of Mercedes’ lack of performance in recent years, is undoubtedly frustrating.
Whilst Russell performed well in qualifying, he committed several costly errors on race day. Although nobody can turn back the clock, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Hamilton would have executed a better race from Pole Position.
The good news for Mercedes is that the car clearly has pace. However, committing such an amateur mistake at this level is obviously unacceptable.
There is also the risk that, as some have hypothesised, the track conditions in Montreal (combined with the track layout) put the W15 in the ideal window of performance.
If this is true, then the German constructor has thrown away a unique chance to claim F1 victory.
