lHowever, it was not a good day for Mercedes. The team made some updates here this weekend, but after encouragement over the past month or so, they’ve dropped back to their average for the 2022 season. Lewis Hamilton managed to secure a second-row spot, but was nearly nine-tenths behind the lead. ultimate pace of Leclerc. It was worse for George Russell, who was several tenths behind Hamilton and even behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Lewis Hamilton seemed a bit confused about how it was all happening but was happy with his lap.
“I came here thinking we were three or four tenths behind last race and I thought we might be two or three tenths behind this weekend and we are second [off] the whole weekend.
“Reach [within] nine tenths I was happy with my lap and with my performance, but they [Red Bull and Ferrari] are in place.”
Team principal Toto Wolff criticized the team’s qualifying performance and praised Hamilton’s lap. “I think we knew that once we got the new tires and we drive angrily in the car, we’d be there third and fourth, like we’ve been all season. But it’s just not good enough,” he said. him after qualifying to Sky Sports.
“In the end, the total package is just not fast enough and we notice that.”