Hamilton drop-off ‘really weird’ as Ferrari move looms

Karun Chandhok has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton's qualifying struggles, calling his drop-off in one-lap performance "really weird" given the seven-time F1 drivers' champion has over 100 pole positions to his name.

The former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator feels the 39-year-old is "low on confidence" as he approaches his winter switch to Ferrari.

Since F1 ushered ground effects back into the regulations, Hamilton has been unable to replicate his once-formidable one-lap pace, taking just one pole position over that three-year span.

Whilst part of the issue has been Mercedes' difficulty in getting to grips with the current era, the 105-time grand prix winner has failed to match George Russell, particularly this season.

Whether those struggles are because of the German marque's lack or competitiveness or symptomatic of his own regression remains to be seen, but it is something his Ferrari move may help establish.

"He’s clearly struggling for confidence over the one lap," Chandhok mused to Betway when discussing Hamilton.

"His score with George, including Sprint sessions is 20-6 on the qualifying scores. For a guy with over 100 pole positions, it’s a real surprise.

"But you listen to Lewis speak afterwards and he says things such as ‘I’m just not good at qualifying’ and ‘I just can’t qualify’, it’s really weird."

"I think he is low on confidence and for whatever reason, I genuinely think he doesn’t know where the qualifying performances have gone."

Ferrari has not signed Hamilton 'for speed'

However, from Chandhok's perspective, it is not all doom and gloom for Hamilton - and Ferrari - once the pair join forces in 2025.

The 40-year-old does not believe the British driver's pace over a single lap is what attracted the Scuderia, instead suggesting that his championship experience was the biggest draw for a team that has not won a title since 2008.

"From Ferrari’s perspective ultimately, I don’t think they have hired Lewis for speed," he explained. "They have Charles Leclerc for speed. They hired Lewis because he knows how to win a World Championship.

"He will bring them experience and the knowledge of how to put a season campaign together. In terms of speed, I still believe Charles Leclerc is the best qualifier on the grid. In terms of out and out one lap pace, he is the fastest driver in F1 today.

"They’ve got speed but what they haven’t had is a driver who has won a World Championship, and I think that is what they have hired him for."

Nevertheless, Chandhok does concede Hamilton will need to better get to grips with his qualifying performances next term.

"For Lewis, it is something he will have to work on though because in 2025, it’s going to be super close and if he is two or three tenths away from Charles, you could end up P6 or P7 on the grid and all of a sudden, your race is completely different.

"I’m sure it’s weighing on his mind but I don’t think Lewis needs people to tell him where he needs to improve, he knows within himself where he needs to improve and you can see the body language."

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