Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Fifth a ‘good position’ to start from in Baku – Hamilton

by Rob Kershaw
2 years ago
A A
Fifth a ‘good position’ to start from in Baku – Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. 28.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan, Qualifying Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Coates / XPB Images

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton suggested he might have managed to beat Carlos Sainz to fourth, but is happy with a fifth-placed start for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The seven-time World Champion squeezed into the final qualifying session on Friday as team-mate George Russell missed out, but a solid effort in Q3 saw Hamilton qualify fifth – just under two-tenths of a second adrift of fourth-placed Sainz in the Ferrari.

Mercedes has not yet shown race-winning performance this season, but buoyed by this latest qualifying performance and his podium in Melbourne at the start of the month, Hamilton described his first lap in Q3 as “sweet.”

READ MORE: ‘Disappointed’ Norris feels he should’ve been P4 in Baku qualifying

RelatedPosts

George Russell has downplayed Mercedes' advantage as a works team

George Russell downplays potential Mercedes advantage over McLaren for F1 2026

1 hour ago
Fernando Alonso pitting at the Italian Grand Prix

Aston Martin uncovers bizarre cause of Fernando Alonso’s F1 Italian GP retirement

3 hours ago

“We’re trying as hard as we can – giving it absolutely everything out there,” he said. “Timing and rhythm and pulling everything together is not easy on this track. I think in Q2 I struggled. I had more pace, I just didn’t get that last lap.

“My Q3 run one was a really sweet lap. I just matched it at the end but I needed just a little bit more time to nip a Ferrari.”

While Mercedes cannot make alterations to its car due to parc ferme regulations, the Briton is optimistic of another strong performance in Saturday’s sprint shootout.

“We can’t do any changes to the car so this is the pace that we have,” explained Hamilton. “So I might be able to eke a little bit more out tomorrow once we do some studying tonight, but this is definitely a good position to start from on Sunday.”

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1. 28.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan, Qualifying Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images

McLaren’s much-anticipated upgrade promised for the fourth round of the season helped both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualify ahead of Russell, but Hamilton emphasised that the German side is itself aiming to make some improvements to its car and move away from the midfield.

“Naturally, this is not the position we want as a team,” he added. “We exist to win, but everyone has that winning mindset and everyone’s working as hard as they can. So, we haven’t had an upgrade this weekend but we’re working towards one that will hopefully put us closer to the battle ahead.”

Mercedes’ straight-line speed deficit to Red Bull this weekend is larger than Hamilton expected, but he is determined to work towards a betterment in that regard.

“I didn’t really know what to expect this weekend,” he said. “I knew the Red Bulls were going to be quick. I didn’t realise we would have such a huge deficit on the straights, but it’s a good indicator.

“We’re slower on the straights and then slower in the middle sector, so we’ve got a lot of work to do to rectify that in the car. It’s not the easiest one to drive, but I’m happy to be on the third row and hopefully tomorrow we can have a bit of a better battle.”

Tags: AzerbaijanGPF1Lewis HamiltonMercedes
Share198Tweet124Share

Related Posts

George Russell has downplayed Mercedes' advantage as a works team
Formula 1

George Russell downplays potential Mercedes advantage over McLaren for F1 2026

1 hour ago
IndyCar will continue to feature 17 races for the 2026 season. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
IndyCar

IndyCar releases new-look 2026 schedule

2 hours ago
Fernando Alonso pitting at the Italian Grand Prix
Formula 1

Aston Martin uncovers bizarre cause of Fernando Alonso’s F1 Italian GP retirement

3 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October
21São Paulo GP07-09 November

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri324
Lando Norris293
Max Verstappen230
George Russell194
Charles Leclerc163
Lewis Hamilton117
Alexander Albon70
Andrea Kimi Antonelli66
Isack Hadjar38
Nico Hulkenberg37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

George Russell has downplayed Mercedes' advantage as a works team
Formula 1

George Russell downplays potential Mercedes advantage over McLaren for F1 2026

September 16, 2025
Fernando Alonso pitting at the Italian Grand Prix
Formula 1

Aston Martin uncovers bizarre cause of Fernando Alonso’s F1 Italian GP retirement

September 16, 2025
Pierre Gasly has thrived in challenging circumstances at Alpine
Feature

How Pierre Gasly has flown under the radar to a well-deserved Alpine F1 renewal

September 16, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd