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ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 05: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP prepares to drive on the grid ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
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ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 05: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP prepares to drive on the grid ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Mercedes locked out the front row in qualifying for the sprint qualifying. But they could not capitalize on their positions as Lewis Hamilton made a poor start to fall back to P5. Although Valtteri Bottas won the sprint qualifying, he will start from the back of the grid as he had to take his engine penalty.
Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin mentioned that they might have to progress in the race through strategy and pit stops. He also expressed his concern, as Hamilton could not get past McLarens in the sprint.
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What did Andrew Shovlin say?
As reported by MercedesAMG.com, while giving his reports on how the sprint qualifying went for them, Shovlin stated it was a mixed result for the team. He also congratulated Bottas on taking the win and responded to how they will manage Lewis’ race tomorrow.
Adding his grim outcome for Hamilton, he said, ” We’ll have a look at strategic options for Lewis tomorrow, but the reality is that if we struggled to overtake the McLarens today, we’ll face the same situation tomorrow, and that’s going to hand Max a very easy win.
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SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 16: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff (R) and engineer Andrew Shovlin talk in the Pitlane before the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit in September 16, 2018, in Singapore. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
“We need to look at every possible opportunity as it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen, and it can often be an eventful race here, but we can’t afford to drop back in the first stint at the rate we did today.”
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Lewis Hamilton crossing his fingers for a better result on Sunday
Lewis Hamilton will start the race in P4 on Sunday. He mentioned he hopes for a different outcome in the main race than sprint qualifying and hopes to limit the damage.
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Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 11, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton before the sprint qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Lars Baron
“It’s not the outcome we wanted for today and we can’t afford days like these, especially when it is this close in the Championships.
We have work to do to analyze today’s race and prepare for tomorrow. I hope we will be able to limit the damage, and I know Valtteri and I will come out fighting,” said Hamilton.
Lewis will look to overtake the McLaren duo as soon as possible and challenge title rival Max Verstappen for the win.
Can Lewis win the Italian Grand Prix? Let us know.
