Lewis Hamilton will be starting the Bahrain Grand Prix from the ninth place on the grid.
The first qualifying session of the 2024 season ended with Max Verstappen taking the pole position. On the other hand, the two faces of a coin could be seen at Mercedes. Young starlet, George Russell claimed the third spot on the grid for tomorrow’s race while his teammate, Lewis Hamilton could only salvage a measly ninth position. This contrast in their fortunes has caused netizens to make statements about Hamilton’s pace and legacy.
The 26-year-old had claimed earlier that the W15 is built around the seven-time champion’s preferences. This had caused people to speculate that Hamilton would have an upper hand over his teammate. However, despite the expectations, the Briton only managed to secure a spot on the fifth row for tomorrow’s race, while his compatriot would be starting just behind the gearbox of Verstappen.
The 39-year-old was assumed to lead the team at the first race after his highly successful campaign last year. However, with the poor qualifying result from today, fans claim that if Hamilton doesn’t retire soon, his legacy will be tarnished beyond repair.
Hamilton received immense praise for his last year’s performances, which could be the reason behind him securing a deal with Ferrari to move to the Maranello from the 2025 season onwards. However, his 2022 season was an abomination according to the former world champion’s standards. Such performances may hint at the prospect of a repeat of his dull 2022 campaign.
Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)
Hamilton’s 2022 season began with porpoising problems causing the Briton to find it difficult to feel at home with the car. In comparison, Russell for most of the season finished in the top five places. While the seven-time champion finished 25 points behind his teammate at the end of the season.
This change of the guard at the Silver Arrows could change the hierarchy of the team and tamper Hamilton’s legacy. Furthermore, the teams and fans wait eagerly for tomorrow and to witness who will win the civil war at Brackley.
