Hamilton Assesses Chances Of First Win Since 2021 After Unexpected Sprint Front Row In China
F1Friday, 19 April 2024 at 21:00
Lewis Hamilton was presented with a unique opportunity at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, and he'll do his best to use it.
The British driver hasn't stood on the top step of the podium for a very long time. The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which was held on December 5, 2021, was the last time Hamilton won a Grand Prix in Formula One.
His 103 Grand Prix wins won't grow to 104 on Saturday, as Sprint races don't count towards the official count of races won, which Oscar Piastri knows very well about, having won a Sprint but still being a winless driver in F1.
However, the seven-time World Champion certainly won't be thinking about whether his statistics will improve or not, as he will be hungry to win again after qualifying second for the Sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit.
For a moment, it seemed that Hamilton could take the pole position, but Lando Norris' lap, which was initially deleted, was reinstated, meaning that the 39-year-old dropped to P2.
Still, he was happy about his result, as he knew that wet conditions will only help him, and he navigated his Mercedes car beautifully around the tricky track to use it to his advantage.
The Sprint Shootout is still only half of the job, as Hamilton will now look to the Sprint race in an attempt to end his long wait for a victory, and he assessed his chances after the Sprint Shootout.
"It really depends what the conditions will be. If it's like [in Sprint Shootout], then maybe we will have a chance of being somewhere up there."
The British driver knows that all will depend on the conditions. If once again rain takes over the Shanghai International Circuit, he will have a chance for a win, if not, it will be difficult to challenge Mercedes' main rivals in dry conditions.
"I think if it's dry, naturally, the Ferraris and Red Bulls will come by and maybe we can hold off some of the others."
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