Despite the initial apprehension toward the revamped Sprint weekend format, we are learning to love the action-packed weekend. If the drama in yesterday’s qualifying wasn’t enough, the sprint qualifying or shootout has served up some more. The mighty Lewis Hamilton has failed to qualify for the second round of the upcoming sprint race. That’s right, Hamilton has suffered an SQ1 exit in the first session of the sprint qualifying. How does one manage to do so after qualifying P5 just yesterday on the same track? Well, it’s all thanks to Mercedes‘ judgment and delayed reactions and the fans are livid.
The Mercedes man was out on track to put in a decent time for the shortened qualifying session for the sprint race. However, the limited time was exactly the factor Hamilton did not even make it to the SQ2 of the sprint shootout. The Brit could not get his tires in the right temperature window and could not set a good enough time to get himself out of the bottom five.
Noooo. After his lap time was deleted, Lewis is out. He couldn’t get a clean start to his lap. pic.twitter.com/26aPpngkn9
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 1, 2023
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The Mercedes pit wall had a lot to do with this scenario as the team deliberated and waited too long to let Hamilton on track. The Brit was instantly welcomed by traffic. After his flying lap, which wasn’t good enough to see him through to SQ2, he ran out of time and the blunder by his team sealed his fate at P18. This is exactly why the seven-time world champion could not even get a second shot at making it to SQ2.
An extremely disappointing end to his sprint shootout which will most definitely ruin his Sprint race as well. It took fans no time to criticize the team for their massive blunder.
Lewis Hamilton stans did not hold back with their scathing criticism directed at Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton had his hand on his head, as seen on the tweet shared by the F1’s official Twitter page. The disheartening picture sums up Hamilton’s time with Mercedes in the last couple of years. The team has got an ear full from Hamilton on multiple occasions for the same. After the Sprint shootout blunder, the fans are joining in as well.
Y’all must just say you hate Lewis. Forever sabotaging him. We as the fans are exhausted by your nonsense https://t.co/CcFkpWZUJZ
— Nolu (@Mrs_MajestyN) July 1, 2023
Read More: Lewis Hamilton’s Pointy Mercedes Criticism Justified
Why did the team have him pit off sync? He was stuck in constant traffic then
— laura | #BelieveInLewis 💜 (@intergalaxtics) July 1, 2023
Sort your fucking shit out man
— Luke Furnival (@LukeJFurnival) July 1, 2023
WATCH THIS STORY: Fans Lash Out at FIA President’s Double Standards as Lewis Hamilton’s Controversial Abu Dhabi Defeat Grabs Limelight Again
Nice one team, don’t put your drivers on similar strategies or anything 👏
— K (@Kieranbcfc2) July 1, 2023
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Fantastic use of time management with traffic guys 👏🏻
— Coppers23 (@Coppers_23) July 1, 2023
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The fans are growing tired of these strategic errors and Mercedes is facing the brunt of that. This could very well become the reason Hamilton decided to take his talents elsewhere.
However, knowing the Brit, he will be focused on damage control during the sprint race. Let’s see how can up he get his W14.