Emilia-Romagna GP: Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ after poor qualifying at Imola

Lewis Hamilton Left ‘Devastated’ After Disappointing Emilia-Romagna GP Qualifying

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his dismay after qualifying in 12th position for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, his first race in Italy as a Ferrari driver. The seven-time world champion found himself behind teammate Charles Leclerc on the grid, with both drivers grappling with performance issues, marking the team’s poorest combined qualifying result of the season.

Struggles on the Imola Circuit

Hamilton’s disappointment was palpable after what was expected to be a promising race weekend. "I feel just gutted," he lamented, reflecting on a car that struggled to find its pace despite a decent setup and working brakes. He noted that while they tried new soft tires for the final run, the outcome was less than encouraging. "There was no extra grip," he concluded.

Teammate Charles Leclerc Shares the Pain

Leclerc echoed Hamilton’s frustrations, calling the qualifying results painful for Ferrari. “The best performance that we could give was in 11th and 12th place. This hurts," he remarked, underscoring the bleak outlook for race day. “To be completely honest, there’s nothing that gives me hope for tomorrow’s pace,” he added, highlighting the challenges they face with the car’s current performance levels.

The Challenge of Overtaking at Imola

The narrow and winding layout of the Imola track poses unique challenges for drivers during the race. Hamilton conceded that overtaking will be difficult, likely resulting in a "DRS train" that could hinder any potential movement through the field. "It’s not a great race circuit to race on…but we are all on softer tires, so we’ll see what we can do," he stated optimistically, despite the hurdles.

A Touching Response to Italian Fans

Despite the on-track setbacks, Hamilton took a moment to appreciate the fervent support from fans in Italy. “It’s amazing; there’s something magical about it,” he remarked, expressing admiration for the passion that Ferrari inspires in its supporters. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added, perhaps drawing some solace from the enthusiastic fans ahead of a challenging race day.

As the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be on Hamilton and Leclerc, as they seek to turn their fortunes around in front of fervent local supporters.