Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton
John McDougall
Lewis Hamilton gave a worrying assessment of his chances at Imola after being knocked out in Q2 at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The iconic circuit in the north of Italy is the start of the European phase of the Formula One season, and the beginning of a triple-header of races which also includes the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.
The race at Imola is the first time Hamilton will be racing for Ferrari in its home nation of Italy, following his seismic switch over the winter from Mercedes.
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But it has not been an optimal start to life in Maranello for the seven-time F1 world champion.
Despite a victory in the sprint race in China, Hamilton's best Grand Prix finish in the red car has been fifth, and the Briton currently sits seventh in the drivers' standings.
Hamilton will start tomorrow's race in 12th after being knocked out in the second phase of qualifying alongside team-mate Charles Leclerc, who will start 11th, in an incredibly tight but ultimately disappointing session for Ferrari, while Italian driver and Hamilton's Mercedes replacement Kimi Antonelli qualified 13th.
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McLaren's Oscar Piastri clinched pole position ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with the Mercedes of George Russell in third place ahead of Piastri's team-mate Lando Norris.
Imola is a fast and flowing but narrow track with only one DRS zone down the main straight and overtaking is notoriously difficult on this circuit with this current generation of F1 cars.
And giving his verdict on the 'tough' qualifying session, Hamilton admitted he was 'devastated' not to at least reach the top 10 shootout for pole, as he believes it will be difficult to progress forward on Sunday.
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He told Sky Sports F1: "Wow. Tough one, tough one. Ultimately I feel super gutted, devastated that we weren't able to get through.
"I really feel like we’ve made so many positive steps this weekend, the car was genuinely feeling better, the balance was really nice…
"Q2 run one felt decent, but the new tyres for some reason we just didn’t have any more grip and couldn’t go any faster. We definitely need to look into that.
"It’s devastating just to see everyone that’s worked so hard in the garage to be in Italy for the first Italian race for me with Ferrari. Not making to Q3 is definitely bittersweet.
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"[The race] it’s all big ifs. It’s a very difficult track to overtake so tomorrow will be hard to progress. We have to figure a way to progress forward. It’s going to be tough."