<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis Hamilton blamed a change to Ferrari\u2019s Q3 programme and the absence of a tow after qualifying sixth for the Azerbaijan GP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The British driver had appeared competitive during practice and produced a solid opening phase of qualifying. However, his performance deteriorated as the session progressed, leaving him 1.332s behind pole-sitter George Russell<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was pretty bad qualifying once again. It\u2019s not for the lack of trying,\u201d Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQ1 and Q2 were pretty OK. At least Q1 was pretty decent. Q2, I struggled a little bit more. And then, as we went into Q3, they changed their plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferrari initially intended to complete two runs during the final segment. The team instead kept Hamilton inside the garage before sending him onto the circuit ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That positioning left Hamilton without another car immediately ahead on Baku\u2019s 2.2km flat-out section, where the slipstream can provide a substantial lap-time gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInstead of doing two runs, we ended up waiting,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd then, because I was ahead of Charles, I had nobody ahead of me for the tow, so that was worth quite a chunk in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leclerc secured second place, although he still finished 0.837s behind Russell\u2019s dominant pole lap<\/strong>. Hamilton was also beaten by Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite questioning Ferrari\u2019s Q3 execution, Hamilton acknowledged that strategy alone could not explain the difference to Mercedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut either way, we couldn\u2019t compete with Mercedes,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re just outright so much quicker than us on the straights. They did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result reinforced the advantage Mercedes had displayed throughout the weekend. Russell led FP1 and FP2<\/a> before returning to the top in qualifying with a 0.837s margin\u2014the largest pole advantage of the 2026 season<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton believes that straight-line deficit will also restrict his opportunities during the race. Baku normally provides several overtaking chances, but a lack of top speed makes attacking and defending considerably harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be hard to overtake Mercedes tomorrow,\u201d Hamilton admitted. \u201cKeeping up with the Mercedes engine on the straight will be tough, but I\u2019ll give it everything I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton starts from the third row alongside Norris, who raised similar concerns after qualifying fifth and said McLaren\u2019s straight-line speed could make a podium \u201cimpossible\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> follows every session of the Azerbaijan GP LIVE and in REAL TIME<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia<\/a> takes place at Sepang on Sunday, 4 October 2026<\/strong>. The race starts at 08:00 BST, 03:00 US Eastern time and 15:00 in Malaysia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kimi Antonelli leads with 302 points<\/strong>, 66 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell, who has 236. Russell reduced the gap by 15 points<\/a> with his Azerbaijan GP victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHamilton admits Ferrari cannot match Mercedes on straights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When is the next F1 race after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Who leads the 2026 F1 championship after Baku?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What penalty will Franco Colapinto serve at the next F1 race?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n