Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver to start Azerbaijan GP from pit lane after taking new engine ahead of Baku race
Lewis Hamilton will begin the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane due to a penalty for exceeding the allowed number of power units for the season.
The seven-time world champion secured the seventh position for Mercedes in Baku on Saturday. However, he has now put in his fifth power unit of the season in his W15, which means he'll be starting the race from the pit lane.
Mercedes informed Sky Sports F1 about their choice prior to the FIA's official announcement, stating that they had already realized they would have to add another power unit to Hamilton's lineup ever since he had to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix in March due to an engine failure.
After confirming the violation, the FIA stated that Hamilton had altered the configuration of his car, which on its own would lead to starting from the pit lane.
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Hamilton's penalty adds to the unpredictable lineup for Sunday’s race, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 at noon. Meanwhile, title contender Lando Norris will begin further back in the pack after an unexpected exit in Q1.
Mercedes' choice to penalize Hamilton gives Norris a small advantage, allowing him to move up to 15th on the starting grid. He has gained two spots from his original position of 17th, thanks to Alpine's Pierre Gasly being disqualified from the qualifying event.
With a longer DRS zone aimed at increasing chances for overtaking and the likelihood of Safety Car situations, drivers like Norris and Hamilton will still believe they can climb through the pack and earn valuable points.
Esteban Ocon from Alpine qualified in last place due to a mistake that affected Norris' performance. He is also using his fifth power unit of the season, which means he'll be starting the race from the pit lane alongside Hamilton.
Hamilton's Ongoing Saturday Struggles Frustrate
After noticing that his qualifying record against his Mercedes teammate George Russell has fallen to an impressive 13-4 disadvantage, Hamilton voiced his disappointment about not being able to optimize his tires for the best performance.
"Yesterday, the car performed wonderfully; it felt fantastic, and I genuinely believe it could have qualified in at least the second row today. However, when I arrived today, the tires just didn’t cooperate at all," Hamilton shared with Sky Sports F1 after the qualifying session.
"It's just about the tires. Look at the Williams team; they suddenly perform well when they manage to get their tires working effectively."
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"I'm putting in all the usual efforts and then some, experimenting with the tires in every possible way. When we hit the track, the tires are usually not reaching their optimal temperature, and it's challenging to get them warmed up."
"If you check my final sector, you'll see it's the fastest, but that’s only because it comes at the end of the lap. Every Saturday, I've been losing at least half a second to a full second, and today I was a full second slower than yesterday."
"I make it a point to do this every weekend. My main focus is to put in my best effort. I need to keep a positive mindset and avoid overthinking things."
Sky Sports F1: Live Schedule For Azerbaijan GP
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Sunday, September 15 8:30 AM: F2 Feature Race 10:30 AM: Grand Prix Sunday - Preparations for the Azerbaijan GP 12:00 PM: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2:00 PM: Chequered Flag - Reactions to the Azerbaijan GP 3:00 PM: Ted’s Notebook
*also broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event
This weekend, Formula 1 heads away from mainland Europe to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which you can watch live on Sky Sports F1. You can catch every F1 race and additional content with a NOW Sports Month Membership—no long-term commitment required, and you can cancel whenever you want.
