Hamilton says he is 'definitely not fast any more'

Lewis Hamilton has said helium is "definitely not accelerated immoderate more" aft different disappointing qualifying show successful his last play astatine Mercedes.

Hamilton's comments came aft helium qualified seventh for the sprint contention astatine the Qatar Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion, who is joining Ferrari adjacent season, was 0.399 seconds slower than team-mate George Russell, who volition start the sprint contention 2nd down McLaren's Lando Norris.

Hamilton said: "Same arsenic each different qualifying - not that great.

"I'm conscionable slow. Same each weekend. Car felt comparatively decent. You know, nary issues. Not truly overmuch much to say."

Hamilton is the all-time grounds holder for rod positions successful F1, with 104. The adjacent closest is chap seven-time champion Michael Schumacher connected 68.

But aft being intimately matched successful qualifying with Russell implicit their erstwhile 2 seasons together, Hamilton has out-qualified his team-mate lone six times crossed each competitory qualifying sessions successful 22 races, including six sprint events.

Their examination is 5-17 successful qualifying sessions not including those for sprint races.

Russell's mean vantage implicit the play is 0.16secs a lap.

Until partnering Russell, Hamilton had ne'er antecedently been out-qualified by his team-mate implicit their clip together.

When it was enactment to him that the occupation could not beryllium him, Hamilton said: "Who knows? I'm decidedly not accelerated anymore."

Friday's qualifying league acceptable the grid for the sprint contention successful Qatar, which starts astatine 14:00 UK clip connected Saturday. There is simply a further qualifying league aboriginal that time to acceptable the grid for the expansive prix.

Hamilton said: "When you are ever backmost wherever I americium it makes it astir intolerable to vie for wins from there. But that's the sprint. I'll bash what I tin tomorrow."

Asked whether determination were immoderate positives, Hamilton said: "Not particularly. The affirmative is the car is accelerated and George should beryllium capable to sprout for rod tomorrow."

Hamilton's team-mate astatine Ferrari volition beryllium Charles Leclerc, who is regarded by galore successful F1 arsenic the fastest operator implicit 1 thigh successful the sport.