At the Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was left visibly frustrated after missing out on pole position, a result he blamed entirely on himself. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion expressed his disappointment, stating, “No one to blame but myself.” Hamilton felt that he had the pace to secure pole but made a critical error during his final lap, costing him the top spot on the grid.
The Monza circuit, known for its high-speed straights and challenging corners, demands precision, and Hamilton believed he could have delivered a better performance. However, a mistake in one of the key corners compromised his lap time. “I should have been perfect in that sector, and I wasn’t,” Hamilton admitted, highlighting his self-criticism.
Despite being visibly upset, Hamilton acknowledged that the team had provided him with a competitive car, making his personal error even more painful. He praised the efforts of his Mercedes crew for delivering a strong package at the demanding Italian track but lamented that his performance didn’t reflect the car’s true potential.
Hamilton’s emotions were intensified by the fact that he had been in strong form throughout the weekend. He had shown promising pace during practice sessions and was considered a strong contender for pole position. His frustration was evident in his post-qualifying interview, where he admitted to letting an opportunity slip through his fingers.
Heading into the race, Hamilton remained focused on recovering and making the most of his starting position. While disappointed with his qualifying result, the experienced driver knew that all was not lost and vowed to fight back in the race, determined to turn his frustration into a strong performance on race day.