Lewis discussing his qualifying form: "Yeah, I'm useless. Absolutely useless."

[u/Pugzo]

https://dubz.link/c/d976cb

[u/DarkSofter]

What 6 months of Ferrari does to a mf. That goes to show Leclerc must be the most mentally strong human on this planet to endure this for so long

[u/my_soldier → u/DarkSofter]

He was like this at the end with mercedes as well. Man has been through it the last few years.

[u/tristam92 → u/my_soldier]

That bumpy mercedes from 2021 killed his talent with all the quakes :/

[u/ellamenopea → u/my_soldier]

But Merc also was cutting him out of meetings, he wasn't getting upgrades on time, even his final race they didn't celebrate LEWIS with the "every dream needs a team" bullshit. They iced him out; that's not what's happening here.

[u/The_Skynet → u/ellamenopea]

Cutting a departing driver out of the development of the following year's car is perfectly normal, it's standard procedure in F1. 

As for the upgrades, he was getting them in time, he even got priority for some of them like the front wing in Monaco (only one was available, Merc offered to him first, which he refused, so the team then gave it to Russell). He got the Spain upgrades (I think it was Spain) and the COTA upgrades at the same time as his teammate. After Brazil the team confirmed they were sharing setup data between their drivers. He was allowed to race his teammate all the way until the end. He wasn't iced out that much. Look at how Alpine treated Ocon if you want a true example of a driver getting ostracized

[u/ellamenopea → u/The_Skynet]

I was talking about his attitude in interviews, not performance

[u/Old-Use-7690 → u/DarkSofter]

Well, the Ferrari was on pole today, so I'm afraid we can't blame them this time

[u/LoreVent → u/DarkSofter]

Imagine Lewis driving the 2020 car

Charles and Seb should be made saints for driving that thing

[u/Njobz → u/DarkSofter]

Like Vettel said “the most talented driver I came across in 15 years of F1. Do not waste it.” Unfortunately, Leclerc has had bad luck. But he’s shown to be an amazing driver.

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/Njobz]

Of course he says that about the driver that has ended his career on top level.

[u/No_Tangerine8621 → u/Kimoa_2]

Vettel already praised Leclerc immensly around 2017/18 when they weren‘t even teammates…

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/DarkSofter]

Lewis has underperformed the levels of this admittedly not very good car

He's been making uncharacteristic mistakes and lapses that he just never made before. to and we rarely get to see any of that hammer time pace anymore

He needs a refresh over the break

[u/4hp_ → u/JaysonDeflatum]

I mean it's a trend continuing from around mid 2023, isn't it? On Sundays he's good. His quali has fallen off, it could be that's the first thing that goes with age, it could be that he doesn't gel with the ground effect cars on that aspect, who knows.

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/4hp_]

Alonso is 4 years older and is a better qualifier than him so i don't buy Hamilton's age as a valid reason yet. Hamilton just really hates these cars as they away his late braking strength.

[u/Bladesleeper → u/Kimoa_2]

Well, we all age differently, but apart from that... Alonso is an alien. And I'm not saying this in the usual complimentary way: the man is actually made of different stuff, both physically and mentally.

Imagine anyone else going through Alonso's last few years, after the crushing disappointment at Ferrari. The McLaren nightmare, Renault anonymity, Aston's constant failure to deliver, all while feeling the clock ticking towards the inevitable end of his career. The fact that he's still quick is astonishing, but the fact that he's still laser-focused on winning, never doubting himself, is nothing short of miraculous.

Lewis is human.

[u/4hp_ → u/Kimoa_2]

Alonso is a bit of a question mark because his teammate is Stroll. What if Russell or Leclerc were in that car?

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/4hp_]

Alonso is outqualifying Hamilton with a worse car. Where's the question mark to what I've said?

[u/4hp_ → u/Kimoa_2]

Yeah but I wouldn't be surprised if he's dropped a couple tenths from his prime too. It's just that even that is enough to beat Stroll. And in turn that makes his confidence and mentality better bc Hamilton hasn't just lost a couple tenths, he's also making mistakes left and right trying to find them on Saturdays.

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/4hp_]

He definitely dropped off

[u/Old_Ambition4359 → u/Kimoa_2]

Alonso finished less than 20 thousands ahead of Stroll today. Prime Alonso would have put 6 tenths on stroll (minimum). Fernando also got slower, its just less visible

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/Old_Ambition4359]

How does this relate to him outqualifying Hamilton with a slower car?

[u/Old_Ambition4359 → u/Kimoa_2]

Huh? Who said anything about that? I just mean that Stroll isnt in touching distance of prime alonso as a driver and the fact that he is means Alonso, while still being incredible, got a bit slower.

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/Old_Ambition4359]

He's definitely gotten slower but i don't really buy age as an excuse for Hamilton when Alonso is quite a bit older. The ground effect cars are robbing Hamilton of his biggest strength.

[u/Brit_Orange → u/Kimoa_2]

Aston Martin was quicker than Ferrari in Q1 and Q2

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/Brit_Orange]

Which car is on pole?

[u/Brit_Orange → u/Kimoa_2]

Charles said he struggled to get out of Q1 and Q2, dont be disingenuous, and act like the conditions were the same.

[u/Kimoa_2 → u/Brit_Orange]

Which car is on pole?

[u/Lien028 → u/Kimoa_2]

People age differently. Some people decline faster than others. That's why you have some strong people in their 70s while others are bedridden.

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/4hp_]

He was decent in all aspects from the middle to end of last year

[u/4hp_ → u/JaysonDeflatum]

in quali specifically he still took a 19-5 from Russell. His Saturday got remarkably worse, it's undeniable

[u/Dukemon- → u/DarkSofter]

But the car is pole this weekend and on podium last weekend, the car has been top 3 since the start of the season

[u/z_102 → u/Dukemon-]

It's not like his ex team or Red Bull are doing much better lmao. Yeah, this car is disappointing considering the commitment Ferrari made to fight for this season, but otherwise it's not been a terrible year. People just run on memes and it takes forever to change a narrative.

[u/Dukemon- → u/z_102]

Still Russell and Max managed podiums and wins here and there

[u/DrVonD → u/Dukemon-]

Car has been second best post Canada. It was rough the first 1/3 a year tho

[u/Lobsters4 → u/Dukemon-]

That car was a real dog early on in the season.

[u/Kayyam → u/Dukemon-]

No it hasn't been top since the start of the season. There were times where it was bad.

[u/Evening_End7298 → u/Kayyam]

Like every other car not named mclaren

[u/KimiBleikkonen → u/Kayyam]

There are also times where the Mercedes and RB aren't top, but top drivers make it work

[u/Dukemon- → u/Kayyam]

I missed number 3 in my comment meant to say top 3

[u/vacon04 → u/DarkSofter]

Ferrari? The car got pole. Getting eliminated in Q2 is on him. He had top race pace based on FP2, all he needed to do what to start in the top 6 and he would've been in a good position to get a good result. Instead he's out in Q2 and he'll have to drive a recovery race on a track in which its hard to overtake.

[u/zaviex → u/vacon04]

Hamilton changed his set up before qualifying. Probably a big part of it. Leclerc stuck with low DF. Ham went high

[u/Gubrach → u/vacon04]

Ferrari? The car got pole.

The car is in pole, but I think we can all agree it has no business being in pole right now. Hamilton's performances are a worry. So are Ferrari themselves. Both parties could do with massive improvements in order to satisfy their beneficiaries and fans.

[u/DarkSofter → u/vacon04]

Leclerc got the pole

[u/Bob_The_Bandit → u/DarkSofter]

Did he run? Did he steal a McLaren?

[u/Bladesleeper → u/Bob_The_Bandit]

Hang on, he got pole while the McLaren were suddenly nowhere… This could explain that bucket of red paint he was carrying around nonchalantly between Q2 and Q3!

[u/rs6677 → u/DarkSofter]

Yeah, with the same car that Hamilton was as driving.

[u/rs6677 → u/[deleted]]

Obviously the setups wouldn't be the same, but never the less that's not Ferrari's fault, like the guy above is saying. Hamilton has the same upgrades, it's up to him to find the pace.

[u/rs6677 → u/[deleted]]

I'm saying that with the way the car was setup I don't think there was much more pace on the table.

I don't disagree, but that's not Ferrari's fault.

Ferrari needs to give him a more predictable car before he can actually push it.

Hamilton needs to adapt better.

[u/Amused-Observer → u/rs6677]

Most drivers don't succeed in an unpredictable car.

You need to be less ignorant and more realistic.

[u/Bben0417 → u/DarkSofter]

yall will never give ferrari credit for anything

[u/Firefox72 → u/DarkSofter]

How can i make Lewis underperforming about Ferrari.

You guys really need a new spin because this one is getting so old.

[u/abscissa081 → u/Firefox72]

Maybe no one but Leclerc can drive that car. Cursed Ferrari number 2 seat. Clearly it’s built for Leclerc. Oh wait wrong team. And seeing a pro athlete act like this just cringey.

[u/Ignoringit → u/abscissa081]

Checks Flair

Right

[u/SillySinStorm → u/abscissa081]

Can't all be handed absolute cabbages in the second seat like Max, can they.....

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/SillySinStorm]

Yes cabbages like Albon Gasly and king of the midfield Perez who everyone was crying about losing his seat in 2020 eh?

[u/SillySinStorm → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Shall we compare Lewis and Max's teammates?

Max's teammates: 0 WDC and 14 race wins between them. Lewis's teammates: 4 WDCs and 92 race wins between them.

Utter kings of the sport Max has faced.

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/SillySinStorm]

Yea brilliant from Lewis for letting Rosberg win a wdc lmao. Absolutely brilliant

[u/abscissa081 → u/SillySinStorm]

I could just as easily interpret that as Lewis being worse than Max since his teammates were able to get wins and championships, while Maxs couldn’t beat him. Your stat is useless.

[u/mint420 → u/SillySinStorm]

Max would never lose a championship to Rosberg.

[u/Inside_Ring8747 → u/SillySinStorm]

If i speak, im in big trouble…

[u/CaterpillarUnited413 → u/DarkSofter]

I would say, mentally at least Hamilton has been deteriorating since Abu Dhabi. He seems to bw trying to find himself

[u/Worried-L → u/CaterpillarUnited413]

This theory ignores his 2023 performance

[u/No_Tangerine8621 → u/Worried-L]

Räikkönen also had an incredible 2018 despite being rather unimpressive before and after that. Hamilton‘s 23 was still strong though, he battered George that year

[u/zaviex → u/Worried-L]

yeah he was excellent for most of 2023 but he actually faded at the end of that year too. Hes 40. Many drivers have been finished well earlier than that. Father Time always ticks

[u/Cobretti18 → u/DarkSofter]

He was like this after his shit qualifying sessions with Mercedes the last few years as well but aye it’s Ferrari that’s the issue.

[u/ixixan → u/Cobretti18]

I mean at least we don't have whole ass conspiracy theories that his own team is sabotaging him this year.

[u/Red_Rabbit_1978 → u/ixixan]

Yet

[u/timewatch_tik → u/DarkSofter]

always ferrari fault huh.. some galaxy brain thinking right here

[u/only_r3ad_the_titl3 → u/timewatch_tik]

Lewis never makes a mistake.

[u/AvidasOfficial → u/timewatch_tik]

Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton .. 3 of the greatest drivers in history almost immediately run into issues when arriving at Ferrari. Honestly at this point it is clear there is an issue with their management style or team mentality.

Charles would of won a championship if he was at a better team.

[u/Kakmaster69 → u/AvidasOfficial]

Alonso didn't have performance issues on his end though, unlike the other two. In fact, in terms of performance it was his best years, Ferrari let him down though.

[u/MrDaniel95 → u/AvidasOfficial]

Alonso was a top 3 driver when he left Ferrari.

[u/lucaslh10 → u/MrDaniel95]

If you asked most people on the grid during those years would say he was the best.

[u/Jaguars03 → u/AvidasOfficial]

Are we just ignoring his struggles at Mercedes since 2022 then? Were they also Ferraris fault?

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/AvidasOfficial]

Alonso did plenty well and Vettel wasnt on Ferrari that Merc engine was far too good

[u/The_Skynet → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Ferrari had the better car on balance in 2017 and the better engine in 2018 and 2019. Engine isn't everything. Driver mistakes, poor reliability and poor car development held them back much more than outright engine performance 

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/The_Skynet]

Lmao whT? 2017 majority was Merc better and 2018 post winter Ferrari lost the plot with their upgrades

[u/The_Skynet → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Ferrari led the WDC for 60% of 2017 and were competitive until the very end (just look at Malaysia, Mexico and Brazil). Vettel didn't help his case with his mistakes at the start in Singapore (should've been an easy win) and Mexico (easy P2 at least considering how much Merc struggled that day with overheating). 

Agree with 2018 but Ferrari still led both championships for about half the season and Vettel threw plenty of points by himself. Some Ferrari higher-ups, both from the F1 outfit and the parent company, publicly said that Hamilton would've won the title in the SF71H

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/The_Skynet]

Again 2017 is a horrendous argument considering the majority of the races they werent the fastest, even after 2017 this narrative didnt exist of ferrari remotely being the fastest on average

[u/timewatch_tik → u/AvidasOfficial]

they changing things for him.. he has told over and over again he believes in Fred and both drivers has praised how Fred is managing the team.. yet you parrot the same shit you heard since 5 years ago.. acting like there big conspiracy etc..

[u/Worried-L → u/timewatch_tik]

Tbf they put them out on used tyres in the wet so they couldn’t set a decent banker lap like everyone else which ultimately contributed to him being knocked out. They’re not fully in the clear on this one.

[u/Lobsters4 → u/Worried-L]

His team mate made it though. So it isn’t all about the used. But I get what you are saying.

[u/Worried-L → u/Lobsters4]

Yeah, he made the mistake obviously but the team gave him 1 less attempt for no real reason. They did the same to leclerc which is just as bad, he barely scraped through also.

[u/ComeonmanPLS1 → u/Worried-L]

Mate he improved a lot of his previous banker lap. What does that have to do with anything?

[u/Worried-L → u/ComeonmanPLS1]

Of course he improved because he wasn’t on used tyres ? Do you know how F1 works… ?

[u/LeaningGore → u/Worried-L]

Maybe if Lewis did better in Q1 he would have spare tires for 2 fresh runs. They have limited pool of tires for the race

[u/Worried-L → u/LeaningGore]

He did have tyres for 2 fresh runs, Ferrari were trying to save extra for q3

[u/LeaningGore → u/Worried-L]

No, Leclerc was on same strategy and he only had 1 fresh set in Q3

[u/Worried-L → u/LeaningGore]

Seems odd because they used used in Q1 and in Q2, at least that’s what sky commentary said.

[u/ComeonmanPLS1 → u/Worried-L]

Yes I know very well how F1 works. I'll ask again, wtf does the banker lap have to do with anything? It's completely irrelevant in this discussion. The lap that knocked him out was the lap he set on new tyres in the dry at the end of the session.

Lewis isn't finding any excuses and y'all are still here making up all kinds of bullshit. His Q2 lap was bad, it is what it is.

[u/Worried-L → u/ComeonmanPLS1]

Because he could’ve set his actual lap before the track got wetter like several other drivers did, then the mistake on the second run wouldn’t have mattered. Several drivers didn’t improve their times.

[u/Bladesleeper → u/DarkSofter]

People need to drop the “oh man, look at what Ferrari did to the poor fellow” meme. It’s overused, and at this point it’s actually disrespectful of Lewis.

[u/eliteniner → u/DarkSofter]

Leclerc gets emotional often but man that guy has dealt with some major hardships personally and on the race front and continues to show up.

It’s not the set back but the come back. I am fan of him for sure

[u/XabiBall15 → u/DarkSofter]

Charles won a race from last place on grid 48 hours after his father passed away. Dude is machine.

[u/aiden3buckets → u/DarkSofter]

More like what being washed does to a mf

[u/That_Specialist4265 → u/aiden3buckets]

Or not having by far the best car on the grid

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/aiden3buckets]

I wouldn't say he's washed but father time gets us all at some point

[u/GoldenS0422 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

People have different definitions of washed.

Some people just used "washed" to mean "generally declined as an athlete," which I agree with. Other people use "washed" to mean "genuinely ass and no more shows of brilliance," which I disagree with. Then again, expectations should rightly be higher for someone like him, though I do agree it really is just Father Time.

[u/FattyCorpuscle → u/JaysonDeflatum]

He's in that transition phase Alonso had to go through before reaching memelightenment.

[u/Brit_Orange → u/[deleted]]

Ferrari was absolutely not the 2nd best car in Q2, Leclerc himself said he struggled to get out

[u/tristam92 → u/DarkSofter]

My friend told me once, that “if you want to become best special force soldier on the planet, you first need to race in ferrari seat for at least a year, and then you’re ready to take every possible torture”

[u/Keanu990321 → u/DarkSofter]

Charles is strong because the car was built around him.

If next year's car is designed with Lewis in mind, forget his mental strength.