For the first time since the 2014 German and Hungarian GP double, Lewis Hamilton has failed to make it to the top-10 shootout in consecutive races. If that doesn’t show how good and consistent a qualifier he is, what does? The 2023 season, though, hasn’t been what Hamilton expected. It hasn’t been what Mercedes expected. After the horror of a season in 2022, the Brackley outfit looked to take a step forward this year. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Mercedes’ fanbase may have turned on it a little this season, but it looks like the LH Army has turned on its hero, too, after qualifying at the Abu Dhabi GP.

Despite what has been a season to forget for Mercedes, it’s in the fight for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship. But with Ferrari trailing Mercedes by just four points, it’s all to play for in Abu Dhabi. But from the looks of it, Ferrari has a slight advantage over Hamilton & Co. And it’s partly thanks to Lewis Hamilton. The LH Army is one of the most dedicated fanbases in the sport, so what did Hamilton do to make them turn on him?

Throughout the weekend, the seven-time champion hasn’t been on top of his game. On the other hand, his teammate George Russell looked strong leading up to qualifying. Given that the Mercedes pair is fighting Ferrari in the championship, it was crucial that they qualified in front of both Ferraris. After Carlos Sainz’s shock exit in Q1, things looked good for Mercedes, but Hamilton made it so that the scales turned back in Ferrari’s favor.

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On a track that he loves and has done well at in the past, Lewis Hamilton could only manage a P11. With Leclerc qualifying in P2 ahead of Russell in P4, Ferrari has the upper hand going into Sunday. But that’s not what enraged the LH Army after Hamilton’s showing. It was the seven-time champion’s excuse after his substandard showing. Needless to say, fans expressed their thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).

Lewis Hamilton has been “poor” in qualifying this season

Do you remember a time when Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying head-to-head with a teammate was equal? Oh, that’s right. It’s happened this season. With the season finale in Abu Dhabi being the 22nd race of the season, Hamilton and Russell are 11-11 in qualifying, courtesy of Hamilton’s inability to reach Q3. But what was his excuse? While coming into the pits after his final flying lap, he said, “There’s something not right with this car.” That’s all his fans needed to turn against him.

Yes, the W14 hasn’t been the best car to drive this season. Hamilton made that pretty clear on multiple occasions. But how is it that George Russell extracted so much more from it?

Lewis Hamilton is one of those drivers whose racing skills have rarely been questioned. Well, that was until his qualifying at the Abu Dhabi GP. How could the difference between him and his teammate have been so drastic?

For Lewis Hamilton fans, it’s uncommon to see their hero struggling in qualifying. Especially considering he’s one of the best qualifiers to have raced in F1. This season, though, has changed his fans’ perception, and for them, watching Hamilton’s qualifying performances aren’t as enjoyable as they used to be.

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At the end of the day, Hamilton’s “something’s wrong with this car” was nothing but an excuse. And saying that after qualifying didn’t change the fact that he’d been struggling throughout the weekend.

While most fans weren’t on the seven-time champion’s side, some of them agreed with him. The W14 just hasn’t been good this year. Mercedes got off to a bad start with the wrong concept. But after scrapping that and introducing a B-spec, although the results have gotten more consistent, it’s still not a good car. While Mercedes might be in P2 right now, it could all change come Sunday.

A few weeks ago, Hamilton expressed how happy he is that the season is coming to an end. Why? Because he wouldn’t have to drive the W14 anymore. A fan shared his sentiment, saying that the W14 belongs with the horrorshow of a W13 from last year. 

Do you feel Lewis Hamilton can make amends during the main race? Who’ll finish in P2 in the Constructors’ Championship: Mercedes or Ferrari?

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