Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had an abysmal outing throughout the 2022 season. The team managed a solitary win throughout the season towards the very end. The 2022 season was a brutal reality check for the Silver Arrows following their eight consecutive constructor championships titles. This downfall resulted from the new set of regulations introduced in 2022, which Mercedes failed to interpret and incorporate successfully in the W13.

The subpar standard of the W13 was clear from day one. However, the most reality check for Hamilton came around the second race of the 2022 season at the Saudi Arabian GP. The Brit crashed out of the first round of a qualifying fixture for the first time since 2017. What was the reason for this massively disappointing outcome? Let’s take a deeper look!

Why was Lewis Hamilton so slow in the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP qualifying?

The Brackley outfit realized the car’s inadequacy during the 2022 pre-season testing. The season opener in Bahrain, with a stroke of luck, gave false hope to the team and the drivers. However, the weekend in Saudi Arabia gave further evidence of their initial beliefs.

The weekend in Jeddah was an unpleasant outing, especially for Hamilton. The Brit volunteered to become the experimental guinea pig for the team’s need to find performance in the defective W13. Despite a favorable track for the car, Hamilton went with for different setups leading up to the qualifying session. What followed was Hamilton’s worst outing in a qualifying session for the first time since his Q1 crash in Brazil in 2017.

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The Brit went for a different setup, which significantly compromised his pace compared to teammate George Russell. To put things in perspective, Russell qualified 6th for the race compared to Hamilton’s 16th place qualifying finish. Speaking to the media following the qualifying as quoted by Sky Sports, Hamilton revealed the extravagant changes were his decision.

“I don’t know how different the cars are set up but the car was undriveable with the set-up I chose,” explained Hamilton. “But it’s my own fault, I made some set-up changes. I don’t know if that was everything to do with it, but it was very unstable. I don’t what I’m going to be able to do tomorrow, but I’m a long way back.”

The Brit ended up nearly 0.7s off of Russell’s pace during the qualifying which is a lifetime in the world of F1.

Read More: What Happened Between F1 Rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Saudi Arabia?

But what brought about the massive difference in pace? There’s an answer to that as well.

Lewis Hamilton pushed the setup changes too far for the Saudi Arabian challenge in 2022

The Brit was in an experimental mood through most of the 2022 season, trying to find a solution to the W13’s poor state. This fact-finding mission started as early as Saudi Arabian GP.

The Brit went with various setups during the Saudi weekend practice sessions. The seven-time world champion went out on track in the final practice session of the weekend, which suited him well. However, the Brit decided to push the setup further, which instantly backfired.

“Yeah, of course. [The setup] was looking good in P3, I tried to progress in a similar direction and maybe went too far. The car was just undriveable, and so nervous,” said Hamilton.

The humble champion also admitted to his mistake to his team of engineers. “I just apologised to my team. Everyone works so hard and when you don’t deliver for them, it’s gutting,” he concluded.

Read More: Hungry Lewis Hamilton Ready to Snatch His Coveted Crown Back From Max Verstappen in 2023 New Year’s Resolution

Despite everyone’s eagerness to see a thrilling championship battle in 2022 and Hamilton making history, the Brit failed to stand on expectations mainly due to the W13. The team is still eager to improve and prove to be a challenge to the front runners. Although there is an air of nervousness in the Mercedes garage.

Moreover, not just the garage, the Brit shared the emotion as well.

Lewis Hamilton’s reluctance to race in Jeddah

The Brit is a champion of human rights and often takes a stand against such issues. Hamilton’s need to speak up peaked during the first-ever Saudi Arabian GP due to the country’s poor human rights record. He shared his concerns with the reporters as quoted by CNN.

“Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do,” Hamilton told reporters. “But this was not my choice. Our sport has chosen to be here and whether it’s fair or not, I think that, while we’re here, it’s still important to do some work on raising awareness.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Prisoner in Bahrain jail sends letter to Lewis Hamilton

The Brit will not be able to speak up so openly in 2023, however, thanks to the new FIA rule. Although there is a slight chance the Brit might break the rule if he feels compelled to.

Until then, all his focus would be on racing and how to get back on top with yet another underperforming car.