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Lewis Hamilton tends to speak quietly. He is not one to exaggerate his emotions, and is more about the content of the message. And that is what focuses a worrying situation for the seven-time champion. He is in crisis. Not even the golden debut - in the sprint - in China helps a driver who cannot find a competitive version and it was clearly seen when he was 9th in qualifying in Bahrain. More than half a second (1:30.772) behind his teammate Leclerc (1:30.175) - who will start second - and behind Sainz, for example
I feel like I'm letting Ferrari down
The crisis exists because Hamilton's words are red alert. "I feel like I'm failing Ferrari," he explained. A clear message of sinking in not finding speed. "It's one of my worst days, I don't feel hopeful," he added in the paddock at Bahrain. Not even the improvements - with a more simplified floor - give him another face. And they must work, because Leclerc, a driver who falls when the car is not adjusted, can compete with the poleman Oscar Piastri from the front row.
It's one of my worst days, I don't feel hopeful
"The positive thing is that the car has improved," said the Briton. But he does not find either the set-up or that point of confidence that Leclerc does have over one lap. The race pace, with the high degradation, may be another story. Although Hamilton is clear that they must come up with something but that he has not found. The signs could not be more complicated for a slow... and long adaptation.
That's another matter. From Australia it was felt that the Briton could not adjust his riding to the SF-25, and although in China he gave a recital with tyre management - in a different temperature as it was a time modified by the sprint - the real conditions brought him back to reality. They also prevail in Bahrain, with a cold track and a Sunday of less heat compared to the whole weekend
The feeling, in any case, is complex. And he will face a battle in which Leclerc has struck a blow. Of a superior calibre, as he had never sent a Ferrari team-mate so far in Q3 times. He beat Vettel by 0.294 (2019) and Sainz by 0.537 in 2021 - his first year - but did not reach two tenths in the other years as team-mates. Hamilton, meanwhile, was almost six tenths of a second behind (0.597).