Hamilton loses pole in Spain and demands more from Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton finished fourth on the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix after missing out on pole position by just 0.189 seconds. The Briton attributed the setback to "dodgy" tires and a Ferrari power deficit, and called on the team to "work harder."

Why pole escaped Hamilton

During the decisive Q3 session, Hamilton briefly led after the first fast laps, but was ultimately overtaken by Lando Norris, who secured first place by a margin of 0.011 seconds. The minimal gap between Hamilton and the leader reflected Ferrari's lack of straight-line speed.

Practice crash that almost compromised the race

Before qualifying, Hamilton crashed head-on into the barrier at the final corner of the free practice 3 session, requiring the team to remove the car from the track. The mechanics rebuilt the car in time, but the incident raised doubts about the preparation for qualifying.

Tire criteria and Hamilton's complaint

In a team radio interview, Hamilton described the set of tires as "dodgy" and stated that he gave it his all to secure the best possible start. The complaint indicates that tire grip may have limited performance in the final phase of qualifying.

Comment on the power difference

Hamilton pointed out that teams with Mercedes engines seem to manage to "turn on the engine" at critical moments, something Ferrari was unable to replicate. According to him, the lack of power in the final corners was decisive for the final result.

Hamilton's appeal to Ferrari

At the end of the session, Hamilton declared that the only solution is for Ferrari to "work harder." He praised the team's execution during the race, but emphasized that the engine's performance is still not on par with its competitors.

With information from Formula 1, Daily Express, https://novanews.co.za/.