🔥 Lewis Hamilton Apologizes to Ferrari After Disappointing Bahrain GP: “I Didn’t Do My Job”

In a stunning display of humility and professionalism, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has apologized to his Ferrari team after his disappointing performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he could only secure ninth place. Hamilton, who was expected to perform at his usual high level, admitted that he “didn’t do his job” after struggling to keep up with his teammate Charles Leclerc and the competition on the International Bahrain Circuit.

Hamilton’s Struggles: A Tough Day on Track

The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend proved to be a tough one for Hamilton, who has been a dominant force in Formula 1 for over a decade. During qualifying, the British driver found himself outpaced by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, finishing nearly six-tenths behind his teammate in a difficult session. Hamilton’s performance was notably subpar, marking his worst qualifying result of the season. The result mirrored a similar outcome from last year when he started from the same position in a Mercedes car.

Despite being in a competitive Ferrari car, Hamilton could not find the pace needed to challenge for higher positions. “On the positive side, our car is clearly much better than what I’m showing, and Charles [Leclerc] did a really good job with it today, so we apologize to the team for not getting the job done,” Hamilton said after the session.

The Apology: Acknowledging the Disappointment

In a candid admission over the radio after his final qualifying lap, Hamilton expressed his disappointment by saying, “I’m sorry.” His apology was directly related to his underperformance, as he struggled to keep pace with his competitors, including Leclerc and the pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, who had an incredible qualifying run at Bahrain.

“That’s just about my performance, my poor performance. There’s no reason, I just didn’t do my job,” Hamilton explained in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “I know it was frustrating for the team and for myself, but we will work together to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

In contrast, Leclerc delivered an outstanding qualifying performance for Ferrari, securing third place, his best of the season so far. Piastri, alongside George Russell, set the fastest lap times, with the McLaren drivers continuing to impress in Bahrain. Leclerc, however, was handed a grid penalty, moving him to second place on the grid after Russell was penalized for an early pit stop in Q2.

Leclerc’s Surprise: A Strong Performance Amid the Challenges

Leclerc, who had already shown promising pace during earlier qualifying sessions, was surprised by his result. “Honestly, I didn’t expect P3,” Leclerc admitted before the grid penalty. “I knew that in Q3, the lap times would be tighter, but in Q1 and Q2, I just had to be patient and wait for the track to come to me.”

Leclerc went on to explain how his tire management and patience paid off during Q3, where he managed to find more pace with fresh tires. “It was really difficult at the start of Q3, everything was quite bad with the old tires, but as soon as we switched to the new set, everything improved dramatically.”

Leclerc was also optimistic about Ferrari’s performance after the team brought some upgrades to the Bahrain race. These upgrades were aimed at closing the gap with McLaren, and Leclerc felt that Ferrari had made significant progress.

“The team has worked really hard to bring upgrades here,” Leclerc said. “I don’t think this is the best circuit to showcase the upgrades, but it’s a small step forward. Hopefully, we will make a bigger jump next week. But even today, considering the small margin to P4, the upgrades have been beneficial.”

Ferrari’s Upgrades: Small Steps, Big Expectations

Ferrari’s upgrade package at Bahrain was focused on refining their performance and improving their competitiveness against McLaren. While Leclerc acknowledged that the upgrades might not have delivered huge results at this track, he remained positive about their impact, especially in terms of tire management and overall pace.

“We hope next week we’ll see bigger improvements,” Leclerc said. “But overall, I think if we’re P3 today, considering how tight the margins are with P4, it shows that the upgrades have helped.”

Hamilton and Ferrari’s Future: What’s Next?

Hamilton’s apology and self-reflection after Bahrain show his commitment to delivering top-tier performances, but his struggles during the weekend raise questions about Ferrari’s ability to challenge the likes of McLaren and Red Bull. While Ferrari has been making strides with their upgrades, it remains to be seen whether they can consistently close the gap in future races.

For Hamilton, the race to bounce back from Bahrain will be crucial. As a seasoned champion, he will no doubt be determined to regain his usual form and avoid further disappointment in upcoming races. Ferrari, too, has their work cut out for them as they continue to develop their car and battle with the top teams on the grid.

Conclusion: A Tough Weekend for Hamilton, but Hope for the Future

While Bahrain wasn’t the race Hamilton had hoped for, his apology to Ferrari and recognition of his underperformance show a driver who is willing to take responsibility and continue improving. With Leclerc showing encouraging results and Ferrari making progress with their upgrades, there’s hope for a brighter future ahead. As the season progresses, the pressure is on Hamilton to bounce back and show that he can still compete at the highest level, while Ferrari will be hoping that their improvements can help them challenge the dominant teams on the grid. Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter of the Formula 1 season!