Lewis Hamilton mentioned his Mercedes workforce didn’t handle their time properly after he was eradicated within the first section of qualifying for at present’s dash race.

His closing try to set a time was thwarted when Max Verstappen appeared alongside him on the start-finish line. The Purple Bull driver remained subsequent to the Mercedes as they headed into flip one, and Hamilton was left with no selection aside from to abort his lap.

Hamilton mentioned he was not too disillusioned at qualifying 18th for at present’s dash race. “The dash race doesn’t actually matter anyway,” he mentioned. “So at present I’ll simply have some enjoyable from the again.”

“Simply the timing was not proper,” Hamilton added.

Hamilton expressed doubts over Mercedes’ techniques properly earlier than the ultimate lap of the session. He queried their determination to convey him into the pits for a brand new set of sentimental tyres midway by way of the primary section of qualifying.

The monitor was damp when drivers left the pits to start with and Hamilton wasn’t satisfied he wanted to swap his smooth tyres for one more set.

Bonnington
So we’ll field, field. We’ll field, field.

Hamilton
Nonetheless fairly good however okay.

Bonnington
Tell us for those who want flap angle. We’re prepared within the field for you. Alonso automobile behind two seconds.

Hamilton
Tyres are nonetheless good, however it’s nonetheless moist.

Bonnington
Okay copy. Tell us for those who want flap alter.

Hamilton
Why are we switching? Why are we the earliest to modify? The tyres had been nonetheless good so I’m undecided why we modified.

Bonnington
Okay, copy. You need to be all clear on exit. And will have time for 4 lap. 4 laps, you’re all clear on exit.

To get the very best out of his tyres because the monitor surfaced improved, Mercedes determined he ought to do two flying laps, one slower lap, and one other flying lap. Nonetheless his second of these was deleted for a monitor limits infringement.

Bonnington
You’ve bought Verstappen 5 seconds behind. We’re considering going for 2 quick laps, then a cool, then a closing push lap. Verstappen at two-and-a-half behind, bought Perez proper behind him.

Bonnington
Verstappen at one and a half, then Perez behind him. So let these guys go. It’ll be begin seven. Perez subsequent automobile.

Bonnington
And we are able to go strat two subsequent lap.

Bonnington
And we’ll take a cool. And you’ve got Alonso at a three-and-a-half. At the moment P1. So the cool can’t be too sluggish, I’ll preserve you up to date. So that you’ve bought Alonso behind, one second, then Stroll at 4 seconds. Simply take into consideration B-mig two for flip 4.

As the ultimate runs started Hamilton was not within the drop zone, however with others poised to enhance he was in critical hazard of falling into it if he didn’t publish a greater time together with his closing effort.

Bonnington
See for those who can drop 10 levels on casing, simply preserve the surfaces up.

Bonnington
So we had a lap deleted there for flip 9.

Hamilton
Are we protected?

Bonnington
At the moment nonetheless protected, bought Sainz behind on an out-lap, then it’s Albon, he’s 5 away on a timed. Vehicles forward on sluggish laps. So Albon automobile behind at three seconds. So he’s on a lap, two seconds behind. So we now have time in hand now. So we are able to get your hole. So this might be strat mode two.

As he approached the quick two corners on the finish of the lap, Mercedes realised Verstappen was about to catch him. They instructed Hamilton to start out his lap, however as he set off Verstappen arrived behind him on the closing nook.

Verstappen drew alongside Hamilton as they got here out of the ultimate nook and accomplished a lap which put him quickest within the session at that time. It was solely crushed by Carlos Sainz Jnr, and he simply made it into the second section of qualifying.

However because the pair went into the primary nook side-by-side, Hamilton was unable to show in and needed to abandon his closing run. Verstappen additionally determined to not start one other lap.

Hamilton
Hole forward?

Bonnington
Acquired Magnussen simply forward, Verstappen’s going to be coming by way of so go now, strat two.

Hamilton
Verstappen simply stop his lap.

Hamilton
Is there time left or not?

Bonnington
Damaging. Vehicles behind.

Hamilton
That was actually dangerous time utilization, man.

Hamilton
Am I out?

Bonnington
Sure, we’re.

Bonnington
So we’ll field, field.

Verstappen was unimpressed together with his rival and accused him of holding him up on the finish of the lap. The stewards didn’t examine the incident, however as Verstappen went by way of and Hamilton was eradicated, the Mercedes driver clearly hadn’t gained from it.

Lambiase
Undecided what occurred in flip 10.

Verstappen
Yeah he simply blocked me within the final nook.

Lambiase
Russell coming by way of at…

Verstappen
I needed to elevate off…

Lambiase
(Speaking over him) Russell coming by way of at two seconds. Understood. You might be P1, Max, P1. That was a great lap.

Verstappen
Yeah I misplaced a lot time in that final nook.

2023 Austrian Grand Prix

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