168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Nico Hulkenberg has come to the defence of 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton over claims he made towards the difficult end of his Mercedes F1 stint.

The seven-time world champion endured a tough final campaign with Mercedes and desp⛄ite picking up two victories, Hamilton ended the year finishing seventh in the championship - his worst classificat💦ion in his storied 18-year career.

As well as finishing behind 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell in the drivers’ standings, he was comprehensively out-qualified🐻 by his teammate over the𝔍 course of the 2024 season.

After a poor qualifyiꦺng at the penultimate round of the campaign in Qatar, Hamilton declared he is “definitely not fast any more”.

He added: "I'm just slow. Same every weekend. Car felt😼 relatively decent. You know, no issues. Not really much more to say.”

Hamilton backtracked on his comments later in the weekend, insisting he has “still got it” after his qualifyꦍing 𒆙struggles continued.

After qualifying sixth for the main grand 𓃲prix, five places and nearly half a second behind Russell, Hamilton stated: "Just the car won't go any faster. I definitely know I've got it still. It's not a question in my mind.”

“He was disappoint﷽ed after a poor qualifying, and obviously I don’t know the details [from Mercedes], but he was up against George who is a v🧸ery fast and complete driver already.

“He’s put in some really strong performances and has good🔯 momentum, so as a driver, even when you are as experienced as Lewis, it can get to you and annoy you as well.

“We all want to challenge and beat our teꦺam-mates, but you saw in Las Vegas how good Lewis is, he came from P10 to [P2] and you should never discount him.

“He’s still going great.”

Hamilton’s 2024 qualifying woes

Hamilton remains the all-time F1 record holder for pol𒁃e positions with 104 but hꩵas topped qualifying just once since the end of the 2021 season.

The 𒁏40-year-old Briton failed to get to grips with Mercedes’ ground-effect car under the current regulation cycle which began in 2022.

Hamilton was consistently outperformed over one lap by Russell throughout 202ꦆ4 and ended the year with a 5-19 head-to-head defeat to his teammate in qualifying.

Russell became just the second teammate to outqualify Hamilton over an F1 season after 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Nico Rosberg in 2014.

Hamilton will be hoping to addr🅰ess his one lap form when he starts♓ his Ferrari career this season.