HAMILTON: I’M GUTTED
DEEP down, Lewis
Hamilton knows where the 2022 version of his Mercedes car belongs … and it is not on the first two rows of a Formula One grid.
The gap between his team and the Ferrari and Red Bull operations remains significant, yet he was still “gutted” at only finishing as the best of the rest at a sodden Silverstone.
He clearly thought the fervour of the drenched fans, his own motivation and brilliance, along with the treacherous conditions, might have helped him.
It was not to be but you can rest assured Hamilton will push himself and his underperforming machine to the limit in today’s race.
Hamilton said: “I’m a little bit gutted really because we have such a great crowd here and I was pushing so hard to get on the front row and fight for pole position today – and I think we could have been in the top three.
“I was gunning for second at least and so to end in fifth, it makes tomorrow tough, but I know I’ve got this amazing crowd with me so I’ll try to push forward.”
Realistically, it would probably need mechanical failure from the cars up the road for Hamilton to have a chance of winning his ninth British Grand Prix. He admitted that he would have had no chance of qualifying higher had it not rained.
As the forecast for today does not, at the moment, include any rain, that does not bode well for the seven-times world champion.
And the chances of his team-mate George Russell getting on the podium are also slim after the 24-yearold made an error that saw him slip to eighth.
He said: “The car definitely had the pace to be P4 or P5 today. I made a mistake when it mattered.”
The third British driver, Mclaren’s Lando Norris, put in a strong performance and will line up alongside Hamilton on the third row.
But after Carlos Sainz claimed his first pole in
150 races, the fight for victory will almost certainly be between the Ferraris and the Red Bulls.
Max Verstappen is next to Sainz on the front row, with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez third and fourth respectively.
Vertsappen, who kept control of his car after a 360-degree spin, will not be a popular winner.
The World champion said: “If they want to boo, they can do that. It’s not going to change anything.
“I am happy being here and it’s a great track.”
Hamilton added: “I definitely don’t agree with booing, but I really do appreciate the support.” Hamilton knows the best response would be to take the chequered
flag.