Lewis Hamilton after Q1 exit: “That was my fault” / Formula 1

“I could have easily gone through, that was my fault,” admitted Lewis Hamilton after his early exit from qualifying for the Chinese GP. The seven-time world champion from the Mercedes team braked in the 14th corner on the deciding lap, which cost him too much time to continue.

“I just had a hard time closing the car there, the wheels locked up. I probably needed another lap,” sighed the 103-time GP winner, who had finished the race in second place that morning. But in the break before the weekend’s second qualifying session, The star brand’s factory team made several changes to the setup – which turned out to be wrong.

“My car is completely different than it was in the morning because we have changed a lot. In some ways it wasn’t bad, but I just had a hard time in Turn 14. In the race, George and I had the same set-up, but then we went in different directions for because we wanted to see if we could get more power, but it didn’t work. I’ll do my best, but things look bad.”

And the 39-year-old, who will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the current season, added: “Now I hope it rains in the race, because now I need it so you have to do a rain dance for me.”

Qualifying, China

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:33,660 minutes
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:33.982
03. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:34.148
04. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:34.165
05. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:34.273
06. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:34,289
*07. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:34.297
08. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:34,433
09. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, 1:34.604
10. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:34.665
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:34,838
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, 1:34.934
13. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:35,223
14. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:35,241
15. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:35,463
16. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 1:35,505
17. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:35.516
18. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:35,573
19. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:35,746
20. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, 1:36,358