© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Lewis Hamilton says the team knows what went wrong for him in Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying, and it was “a decision I had taken against everyone’s judgment”.
The first qualifying session with the upgraded W14 did not go as well as Mercedes would have hoped, with Lewis Hamilton ultimately qualifying in P6 and George Russell in P8.
After the session Lewis admitted it was his decision to do something with the car, that led to poor quali performance.
“The last time I enjoyed the track this much was 2007, 2008 and my Formula 3 days here, I’ve generally really enjoyed it,” Hamilton said.
“[F]P1 to [F]P2 was good, [F]P2 to [F]P3 I think was good but then we made a change into P3 which didn’t feel as good, but it was faster in the middle sector, but slower in the first and last.
“Just the car felt like a real handful, to switch on the tyres I really struggled with, and that was the first time in this session.
“We know why and it was a decision I had taken against everyone’s judgment, I fought for something and it made it even harder probably.
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“It’s been an amazing weekend, I’ve loved every second on track, more than probably ever.
“But I got a really good lap at the end, and I think that was as fast as our car was going to go, in a perfect world maybe a tenth left in it. I’m grateful I kept it out the wall and got it round.”
Despite the subpar result, Lewis believes the team is going in the right direction.
“I’m so grateful for everyone back at the factory, they’ve worked so hard to build these components for the car.
“I’m glad I didn’t break the new components. I broke the wing, which I’m sorry for but those changes have helped the feeling. It definitely feels like it’s going in the right direction.
“I don’t thing we will get a full read of the new sidepods and everything until we get somewhere like Barcelona, where we’ll see the car come alive I think,” he concluded.
