Ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes Lewis Hamilton must “work on” his qualifying tempo forward of his swap to Ferrari subsequent yr – however downplayed any issues the crew may need.
Hamilton has constantly struggled for one-lap tempo throughout his last season with Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion was comprehensively overwhelmed by teammate George Russell throughout the 2024 F1 season in qualifying.
Whereas Hamilton nonetheless stays one of many perfect in race trim, his lowly qualifying positions typically has made life tough for him.
In 2025, Hamilton will go up towards arguably the most effective qualifier on the grid in Charles Leclerc.
Chatting with Betway, Chandhok assessed Hamilton’s qualifying difficulties forward of his seismic transfer to Ferrari in 2025.
“He’s clearly struggling for confidence over the one lap,” Chandhok mentioned. “His rating with George, together with Dash classes is 20-6 on the qualifying scores [After Brazil].
“For a man with over 100 pole positions, it’s an actual shock. However you hearken to Lewis communicate afterwards and he says issues comparable to ‘I’m simply not good at qualifying’ and ‘I simply can’t qualify’, it’s actually bizarre.
“I believe he’s low on confidence and for no matter cause, I genuinely suppose he doesn’t know the place the qualifying performances have gone.”
Chandhok dismissed ideas that Ferrari might be anxious by his lack of kind in qualifying, noting his world championship-winning expertise.
“However from Ferrari’s perspective in the end, I don’t suppose they’ve employed Lewis for pace.” he added.
“They’ve Charles Leclerc for pace. They employed Lewis as a result of he is aware of the way to win a World Championship. He’ll carry them expertise and the data of the way to put a season marketing campaign collectively.
“When it comes to pace, I nonetheless consider Charles Leclerc is the most effective qualifier on the grid. When it comes to out and out one lap tempo, he’s the quickest driver in F1 immediately.
“They’ve received pace however what they haven’t had is a driver who has received a World Championship, and I believe that’s what they’ve employed him for.”
Enhancements wanted
With F1’s guidelines for 2025 remaining steady forward of the massive regulation adjustments in 2026, the highest 4 groups are anticipated to be evenly matched on the entrance.
In consequence, the onus might be placed on the drivers to ship, and Hamilton received’t have the ability to afford underperforming in Saturdays.
“For Lewis, it’s one thing he must work on although as a result of in 2025, it’s going to be tremendous shut and if he’s two or three tenths away from Charles, you would find yourself P6 or P7 on the grid and abruptly, your race is totally completely different,” Chandhok defined.
“I’m certain it’s weighing on his thoughts however I don’t suppose Lewis wants folks to inform him the place he wants to enhance, he is aware of inside himself the place he wants to enhance and you’ll see the physique language.”
