Lewis Hamilton has conceded that he will not be able to outqualify Mercedes teammate George Russell for the rest of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The seven-time world champion showed great pace throughout Friday practice at the Monaco Grand Prix but fell away during qualifying on Saturday as he finished seventh while Russell finished fifth.
Hamilton is now behind Russell 1-7 in qualifying head-to-head this year and is on course to be out-qualified by a teammate for the first time since 2014.
P5 for George and P7 for Lewis in Monaco GP qualifying.
It’s tight at the top! pic.twitter.com/VoDEVZVMBv
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 25, 2024
“I don’t anticipate being ahead of George in qualifying particularly, this year. We have got to keep pushing,” Hamilton said.
“Once we got to qualifying, I don’t understand. I already know automatically that I will lose two tenths, going into qualifying. That is definitely frustrating.
“It’s something I haven’t asked for. I am not driving any different. The laps are really great. I don’t know. It’s just lacking, for some reason.”
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was sandwiched between both Mercedes and will start Sunday’s race in Monaco in sixth place while home hero Charles Leclerc will start on pole ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jnr.
