Lewis Hamilton has apologised to his Mercedes team aftercrashing out of qualifying for Saturday's F1 Sprint at Austria's Red Bull Ring. Up until his accident, Hamilton had been going strongly, having setthe third-fastest time in Q2, but lost the back end of his W13 coming out of Turn7 in the top 10 shootout and ended up in the barriers. "It was a big hit but I am OK," said Hamilton. "I am incredibly disappointed in myself, and sosorry to the team who worked so hard to put this car together, and I never liketo bring it back damaged. "Wewere fighting for top three, I think, and I don't have an answer for it. "Ilost the back end into Turn 7 and that was that." With Hamilton’s teammate George Russell also spinning off intothe barriers just a few minutes later, the Mercedes mechanics will have a busyevening ahead of them to get both cars ready to race in Saturday's F1 Sprint.
Hamilton encouraged by Mercedes pace
Despite his mishap, Hamilton said he was pleased to see howcompetitive Mercedes had been up until that point in the session. "Iam encouraged for sure, I am encouraged of course to see our performance," addedHamilton. "Weweren't expecting for it to be as close as that today. "Thatis a huge positive from the team, but I am really quite far back so I don't knowwhat is possible from there. "But we have a Sprint race as well, so hopefully Ican make up for some lost time."
Most read
