Lewis Hamilton was unhappy with Ferrari’s choice of tyres after failing to make the cut for Q3 in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
He said his early exit from qualifying was a “shock” because he thought he was on course for a top three start.
Hamilton reached Q2 comfortably, setting the sixth-quickest time in the opening round of qualifying. However he lapped 0.365 seconds slower in Q2, where he used the soft compound tyre, and missed the cut by 0.395s. His team mate Charles Leclerc used the mediums and progressed to Q3.
The seven-times world champion regretted not using the medium rubber in Q2, as most of his rivals did.
“Firstly we [should] have done what everyone else did and have three [sets of] mediums going into [third practice],” he said. “Then into qualifying we would’ve had three mediums and we should have used a medium in Q2.
“That’s what everyone else did and we knew that it was quicker. I can’t tell you why we didn’t end up using it. But we’ll take it internal.”
Late in Q2 Hamilton asked his race engineer Ricardo Adami: “Is there time to stop for tyres or not?” However Adami warned him there wasn’t enough time left for him to pit, switch to the mediums and get them up to the correct operating temperature. “Difficult warm-up for medium,” he said, “stay out.”
Hamilton set the quickest time in practice yesterday and remains convinced Ferrari have made improvements with their car. “There’s been lots of progress,” he said.
“I’m still optimistic for the race, I think, in terms of trying to move forwards,” he added. “But I honestly thought I was fighting for the top three, so it’s a big shock.”
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