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Lewis Hamilton expressed a familiar feeling after qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, saying that there were moments when the car showed potential, but ended up disappointing. Hamilton, along with his Mercedes team, watched as their hopes faded and they were eliminated in Q2. Even George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, who has performed better when Hamilton faces difficulties, only managed seventh place on the grid. This false hope in practice has happened before in the 2024 season, with Mercedes facing a similar situation in Bahrain. In Melbourne, Hamilton was slower in Q2 than he had been in FP3, while Russell was only slightly slower. Other drivers, like Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc, were significantly faster. Perhaps it was unrealistic to expect much more from Mercedes, as this circuit does not suit their car’s strengths. Despite some encouraging signs in FP3, the gap between Mercedes and their competitors widened in qualifying. Hamilton and Russell were very close, with Hamilton only half a tenth slower than his teammate. However, a mistake in the final corners cost Hamilton and allowed Russell to progress to Q3. In terms of performance, Hamilton is sensitive to inconsistencies in the car, which can affect his mindset. Russell, on the other hand, does not feel these fluctuations and is more satisfied with the car’s balance. The specific circumstances of the race may have influenced their perspectives. Ultimately, Mercedes seems to reach a performance limit in qualifying, while Hamilton occasionally manages to surpass it. This recurring issue prevents Mercedes from establishing itself as the best of the rest and challenging Red Bull. Despite the limitations, there is still hope within the team that the car has more potential. However, the car’s inconsistency remains a concern.
