Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has conceded the workforce pushed Lewis Hamilton’s established up “far too significantly” in Saudi Arabia.

Hamilton unsuccessful to escape Q1 on Saturday for the very first time due to the fact 2017 and the very first time on pure speed due to the fact 2009.

Mercedes has struggled to get to grips with the all-new technological rules with the 8-time consecutive constructors’ champions sitting down as the 3rd-swiftest workforce powering Ferrari and Purple Bull.

Outlining Hamilton’s Q1 exit, Shovlin claimed: “Well, there is a handful of explanations but basically, we really do not seriously fully grasp the motor vehicle however as nicely as we do it at the stop of the 12 months, we have only experienced two races with it.

“So, we are often discovering the set up with Lewis, striving to discover a course that provides overall performance and we might identified a superior course from Friday into Saturday that he was equipped to attempt in the 3rd exercise session.

“We went very a little bit additional on that into the qualifying session, but finally it was a little bit far too significantly.

“So, from the term go, he was missing rear grip, Jeddah is a avenue circuit that you want a whole lot of self esteem, it really is really quickly, the partitions are really near and when you have not bought the rear grip, the driver are unable to have that self esteem.”

Mercedes “at-chance” in qualifying

Hamilton retains the report for the most pole positions scored in F1 with 103 to his title with Michael Schumacher 2nd on sixty eight.

With a much better established up, George Russell was equipped to attain the last section of qualifying and lined up sixth on the grid, qualifying ten positions much better than his report-breaking workforce-mate.

“Eventually, we pushed it a little bit far too significantly but it was a practical understanding exercising,” extra Shovlin.