Lewis Hamilton blames Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez for struggles

F1 preview: A lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has pointed the blame at Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez after struggling in the newly-introduced sprint shootout at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hamilton dropped to P6 on the grid in sprint qualifying after a difficult final session.

Team-mate George Russell pipped him to P4 despite Hamilton having an edge over the ex-Williams star throughout the weekend. However, Hamilton suggested rivals Verstappen and Perez were the main reason he dropped down the pecking order as he didn’t benefit from a tow on his final run. 

He claimed the two drivers “pulled too far ahead” which compromised his run to the line. He told Sky Sports F1: “The sessions were going really well actually. Q1 and Q2 were going well. Just my last lap… I struggled with the rear-end with the last lap and I didn’t get a tow at the end, the Red Bulls pulled too far ahead.”

A lack of tow in Azerbaijan can be costly with teams trying to schedule their runs to benefit from the extra advantage. Ferrari used the strategy to perfection in SQ2 with Charles Leclerc helping Carlos Sainz.

READ MORE
Sergio Perez claims F1 chiefs ‘will get drivers to fight each other'[LATEST]

McLaren also ensured Oscar Piastri towed Lando Norris to move the Briton higher up the grid for the race. But, the order will only set the grid for this afternoon’s sprint race where fewer points are on offer.

Hamilton was fifth quickest on Friday qualifying with Russell down in P11 for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver had praised the new changes ahead of the weekend and doubled down on his support after the session.

He added: “Qualifying is always fun so it felt like another qualifying session. It’s only 17 laps so there’s not a massive amount we can do in that time but hopefully we can get a race.”

DON’T MISS
Verstappen’s threat to quit F1 under spotlight as star criticised[LATEST]
Charles Leclerc explains Baku sprint qualifying crash[ANALYSIS]
George Russell calls out FIA again after ‘crazy’ decisions dig[COMMENT]

Charles Leclerc secured pole position for the sprint race after getting the better of Perez and Verstappen in the final session. The Dutchman lost control of his Red Bull on the exit of turn five and six on his first run which cost him valuable lap time. 

Drivers are not allowed to switch their tyres between runs in SQ3 and this cost Verstappen a chance to battle with the frontrunners. After the session, he said: “Everything was going well and the pace was good, but in Q3 on the first run on the soft I had a big moment in five, six and because of that the tyres were really hot. 

“On the second lap with the most grip we had a horrible sector two so that was not fantastic.”

Source: Read Full Article