Lewis Hamilton will start the Bahrain Grand Prix in ninth position on the grid. The first qualifying session of the 2024 season ended with another driver claiming pole position. Meanwhile, there was a noticeable difference in the performance of two teammates. The young talent secured third place on the grid, while his partner could only manage a disappointing ninth place. This difference in their fortunes has sparked discussions among internet users about Hamilton’s speed and reputation.
Previously, the 26-year-old driver mentioned that the W15 car had been adapted to meet the preferences of the seven-time champion. This led to speculation that Hamilton would have an advantage over his teammate. However, contrary to expectations, the British driver only managed a place on the fifth row for tomorrow’s race, while his compatriot will start just behind Verstappen. As a result, people have reacted to the current situation at Silver Arrows and expressed surprise at Hamilton’s slower pace.
Some individuals believe that if Hamilton does not retire soon, his legacy will be negatively affected by this year and the next. There are humorous suggestions that maybe he was carrying too many sensors or that Ferrari will cancel his contract after such a performance. Others ironically comment that Hamilton blames the car’s setup for his poor performance and suggest that he should focus on his own driving. There are even jokes that he was probably more interested in watching Ferrari on a big screen.
The 39-year-old driver was expected to lead the team in the first race, following his highly successful campaign last year. However, fans now claim that if Hamilton does not retire soon, his reputation will be irreparably damaged due to this disappointing result in qualifying. Hamilton received immense praise for his performances last year, which likely contributed to his agreement with Ferrari starting from the 2025 season. However, his 2022 season fell short of expectations and there are concerns that history may repeat itself.
Hamilton’s 2022 season was hampered by issues that made it difficult for him to feel comfortable with the car. In contrast, his teammate Russell consistently finished in the top five for most of the season. As a result, the seven-time champion finished the season 25 points behind his teammate. This changing of the guard at Silver Arrows could potentially alter the team’s hierarchy and impact Hamilton’s legacy. Fans and teams eagerly await tomorrow’s race to witness the outcome of the internal battle in Brackley.
