As the W14 headaches persisted at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton missed out on another opportunity. Since the introduction of new regulations last year, the Silver Arrows failed to provide a winning car to their drivers. Although Hamilton was vocal about his struggles with W13, he didn’t show much frustration in 2022. But that has changed this season. And this time it was after the season’s first Sprint Shootout.

Sprint Shootout is the qualifying session that determines the starting grid for Saturday afternoon’s sprint race. It went well for the Mercedes driver until the last round. At the end of the SQ3, he had positioned himself behind the two RB19s. But failed to take advantage of a potential tow created by Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, he ended up in sixth position.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about the session, the Briton said, “The session actually went quite well, particularly in SQ1 and SQ2. On my last lap I was struggling with the back of my car and I couldn’t get a tow either. The Red Bulls were too far away for that. That’s a shame, but I gave everything and that’s all you can hope for.”

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Later, speaking about the new sprint format, Hamilton said “It was fun. Qualifying is always fun and that’s how this session felt.” Hamilton has previously been critical of the new sprint format, but now that opinion seems to have changed slightly. The same is the case with other drivers. 

F1 Drivers about the new sprint weekend format 

Despite the initial hesitation, drivers largely backed the changes. “When I was out of the sport those two years, I was not watching the practice. They were too long and boring. So I see the point of making something different on the weekend.” said Alonso.

McLaren’s Lando Norris says, “I don’t want a sprint race every single weekend”, although he loves it.  On the other hand, Hamilton, who loves a challenge, seems to be enjoying it the most. He said: “It’s definitely difficult to just have one session where you probably get, like, 20 laps, and then straight away, you’re into Qualifying. But, that’s what we’re here to do, right?”

Although it is stressful and more difficult, every driver is embracing the new format, except Max Verstappen. Coming to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the reigning world champion maintained his stance on the new Sprint format. He said: “Everyone I think knows my opinion about it but I think just looking at the weekend, it will be a bit more chaotic, to get everything right.”

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Despite the difference of opinion, the red lights went off and the race went on!