Brilliant in free practice, Lewis Hamilton did not find the same sensations in qualifying in Monaco. The Briton is now calling for an in-depth analysis from Ferrari to understand this sudden change.
Read more Williams sanctioned in Monaco after a near-miss incident in the pit lane
After dominating Friday’s session on the Monaco circuit, Lewis Hamilton approached qualifying with strong ambitions. The Ferrari driver was among the main contenders for pole position after showing a particularly convincing pace during free practice.
However, when the qualifying session began, the seven-time world champion quickly realized that something was not right. Despite a final third place on the grid, his best time remained more than two tenths off the pole secured by Kimi Antonelli, while Max Verstappen also proved faster.
An honorable result on a track where every thousandth counts, but one that leaves a bitter taste for Hamilton given the performances previously displayed by the Scuderia.
Hamilton demands answers from Ferrari
At the end of the session, the Briton did not hide his incomprehension regarding the behavior of his single-seater. According to him, the SF-26 seemed very different from the one he had been driving since the start of the weekend, even though few modifications had been made before qualifying.
“It was difficult for us. We seemed really strong during practice. We barely changed anything, but for some reason, the car was radically different once we got to qualifying.”
Faced with this unexpected situation, Hamilton believes that Ferrari must now analyze the collected data in detail to identify the origin of this loss of performance.
“We really need to look into this in depth.”
This statement reflects a certain frustration, especially since Ferrari seemed to have the necessary tools to aim for the front row, or even better, on a circuit where grid position is often decisive for the final result.
Ferrari lost its advantage over the weekend
While Ferrari had impressed on Friday with a very competitive pace, the hierarchy gradually evolved. From Free Practice 3, Kimi Antonelli took the upper hand with his Mercedes, while Verstappen remained constantly in the fight despite the difficulties encountered by Red Bull in the early sessions.
In qualifying, this trend was confirmed. Antonelli secured a remarkable pole ahead of Verstappen, while Hamilton had to settle for third position. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, also failed to convert the potential seen on Friday into a perfect result in the decisive session.
For Ferrari, the question now is to understand why the car seemed less performant when conditions demanded extracting the maximum from the package.
Despite everything, the pleasure remains intact
Even if he didn’t achieve the desired result, Hamilton emphasized his attachment to Monaco and Formula 1. The Briton assures that he gave his all during his fast laps, flirting with the barriers as required by the Monegasque track.
“I gave absolutely everything. I was as close to the walls as possible.”
Before concluding on a more positive note: “It’s a privilege to be here and to be one of the 22 Formula 1 drivers. I love every second I spend behind the wheel.”
It now remains to be seen whether Ferrari will manage to identify the origin of this mysterious change in the SF-26’s behavior before the Grand Prix. On a circuit where overtaking is often an exploit, every detail counts, and Hamilton knows that an opportunity to contend for victory might have been missed during this qualifying session.
Read more George Russell completely lost: the Mercedes driver no longer understands his drop in performance