Lewis Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction despite achieving his best starting position of the year at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix. He lamented that he did not have as good a performance in qualifying as in practice, even though he managed to secure third place on the grid. Hamilton and his teammate George Russell were able to lock out the second row of the grid, continuing Mercedes’ positive trend. However, Hamilton admitted that his Mercedes W15 was still challenging to control at the limit, although he had beaten Russell for only the second time in nine races.
Hamilton commented: “I think it was satisfactory. It’s good to be back up here and see our progress. In the last few races, we have gradually closed the gap to the leaders. There is still potential for improvements in the car, but it’s a delicate balance. We have some adjustments to make, but overall, I’m pleased to be in third place, especially considering the long straight to Turn 1.”
Hamilton acknowledged that the three-tenths gap to Lando Norris and Max Verstappen highlighted the distance that Mercedes still needs to cover to be competitive at the top. However, he remained optimistic as the team continued to perform well on a conventional track and showed signs of future upgrades. He admitted: “Three-tenths is a significant margin. But for a track like this, it’s not so bad. I believe there is still time to be gained throughout the lap, maybe two-tenths. However, they still have a slight advantage. Being so close on a track like this shows that we are heading in the right direction. We have some planned improvements for the upcoming races to further reduce the gap.”
Hamilton was intrigued by his lack of performance in the last races in Monaco and Canada. Despite his good training sessions, he had difficulties replicating his speed during qualifying. He believed he had lost some performance and couldn’t push the car to its limit. Hamilton suspected that the problem was related to the tires and the car not responding well when pushed to the limit. He mentioned that in the first training session, he was seven tenths slower due to issues with the tire blankets, but they were resolved for the following sessions. Despite these challenges, Hamilton was grateful for his best qualifying performance of the year.
Although Hamilton will start near the top two on the grid, he expressed concern about the Ferrari drivers behind him. He noted that the difference between third and fifth place was very small, and the Ferrari team had introduced updates that improved their pace in long races. Hamilton emphasized the importance of working together as a team to maintain their positions. If they had more pace and could keep up with the Ferrari cars, then they would have a chance to compete. However, the true result would only be known on race day, and tire degradation would play a crucial role. Hamilton mentioned that having a good rear end would help save balance and rear tires, which would be crucial for the race.
© 2024
Portugal wins the Eurocup final in an exciting penalty shootout
The Portuguese football team won the title of the 2024 Eurocup in an exciting penalty shootout against the Spanish team. The match, held at Wembley Stadium in London, ended in a 2-2 draw in regular time and extra time. In the penalties, Portugal won 4-3, securing the trophy.
The game started with Spain opening the scoring in the 15th minute of the first half, with a beautiful goal from their star, Pedro. However, Portugal didn’t take long to react and equalized the game in the 30th minute, with a header goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the second half, the Spanish team regained the lead in the 60th minute, with a penalty goal converted by Sergio Ramos. But Portugal’s persistence paid off in the 80th minute, when João Félix equalized the game again.
With the draw persisting in extra time, the decision went to penalties. Portugal had a great performance from their goalkeeper, Rui Patrício, who saved two Spanish penalties. Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota converted the penalties for Portugal, securing the victory.
With this achievement, Portugal becomes European champions for the second time, repeating the feat of 2016. The Portuguese team showed determination and determination throughout the tournament, overcoming strong opponents to reach the final. Cristiano Ronaldo was the top scorer of the competition, with 8 goals, and was also voted the tournament’s best player.
The Portuguese fans celebrated in the streets of Lisbon and throughout the country the title conquest. The party promises to be long and lively, with the players being received as heroes. Now, Portugal is preparing to defend its title in the next edition of the European Championship, which will be held in 2028.
