Lewis Hamilton had a disappointing end to the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix as he was eliminated in Q1. Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate at Mercedes, provided commentary during the weekend and shared his insights about the seven-time world champion. Rosberg sympathized with Hamilton’s elimination in qualifying, considering it a painful experience for the British driver. Hamilton had raised fans’ hopes with a P2 finish in the sprint race, but a mistake in the penultimate corner cost him valuable time and led to his elimination. Rosberg noted that the wind conditions played a role in Hamilton’s lap time.
In addition, Rosberg didn’t hesitate to criticize Hamilton’s mistakes. He believed it was unnecessary for the seven-time world champion to push the limits of the car and should have known better. Rosberg pointed out the four-tenths lost on the turn as a “disaster.”
Despite the disappointing qualifying results, Rosberg praised Hamilton’s P2 finish in the sprint race. The 39-year-old driver maximized the potential of the underperforming W15 car and earned crucial points. The team remained hopeful for better results in the upcoming sessions, although Hamilton’s P18 qualifying position would make it challenging.
Rosberg emphasized that Hamilton performed exceptionally well in the first sprint race in China, despite the W15’s issues in slow and long corners. The 39-year-old driver managed to fend off rivals and secure a podium finish. Rosberg believed Hamilton drove even better than what his competitors allowed him to.
The Chinese Grand Prix presents multiple challenges for Hamilton, starting from P18 on the grid. He will need to fight hard in the lower positions to have a chance at scoring points. Currently sitting at P9 in the drivers’ standings, Hamilton risks falling further down if he fails to earn points. Therefore, the seven-time world champion needs a strong performance to secure a more comfortable position.