I couldn't find the rhythm – Hamilton
Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton had a torrid qualifying session after a dominant Friday showing. The Briton made a few mistakes throughout the session and ended in the barriers in the dying minutes. He conceded that he was unable to find the rhythm during the session.
Hamilton topped a free practice session and showed a crushing pace both on one lap and race simulation but failed to materialise that promise in qualifying.
He had a series of issues under braking and outbraked himself almost in every run which meant he flat-spotted almost all his supersoft sets. He was under pressure in the last part of qualifying as his team-mate managed to save two sets of the supersoft compound while he had only one left for Q3.
Hamilton didn't search for excuses, he explained the lack of form with failing to find his rhythm.
“It’s a fine line between being on it and not being on it – and I just wasn’t on it today. I had a fantastic rhythm yesterday but none whatsoever today,” said the Mercedes driver.
“There’s no specific answer or excuse. I wasn’t hitting the right apexes or the right braking zones… it was just one of those sessions. Sometimes it happens. It was my fault, so I’ll apologise to the team and try to make up for it tomorrow.”
As for tomorrow's race, the Briton is adamant to fight his way back. He builds his hopes on the ultradominant form of his Mercedes car.
“It’s always difficult to come back from this kind of position so it’ll be damage limitation tomorrow. I highly doubt I can challenge for the win – but I’ll give it my best shot and try to bring home as many points as I can.”
“The car is good here and we’ve got more pace than most of the others. I’ve just got to make my way through any tangles at the first corner and see where I go from there.”
Hamilton is set to start the European Grand Prix from 10th on the grid.
