Red Bull driver Verstappen did not take an active part in qualifying at the Sochi Autodrom due to a penalty for an engine change that will lead him from the end of the grid.
Hamilton said Friday that it was important for Mercedes to seize the chance in Russia, but the seven-time world champion missed pole position after finishing fourth overall after a chaotic end to qualifying.
A mistake while driving into the pits to switch to slick tires resulted in Hamilton hitting the wall and damaging its front wing, resulting in a long wait for a new one to be fitted. Hamilton spun again at the end of the session after struggling with cold tires.
However, Hamilton discarded the mistake due to the pressure in the tight title fight with Verstappen, which he gave up five points behind the top of the drivers’ standings.
“It really has nothing to do with pressure, to be honest,” said Hamilton.
“It really wasn’t a pressure scenario. It literally just is [that] Mistakes happen.”
Hamilton stated that the tight turn required to switch from intermediate to slick tires made him more aggressive as he entered the pit lane, knowing that I “knew I had as much time on the track as possible would need “.
“In the previous times in the pit lane you could take it really slowly,” said Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
“The track was dry and the grip was pretty good, and [I] came in and just took it a bit faster than normal and just lost the back end and slid into the wall.
“Yes, of course, embarrassing, [I’m] disappointed in myself that i had it but shit happens. We all make mistakes, and of course that’s not what you would expect from a world champion. “
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff echoed Hamilton’s thought, saying the mistake had nothing to do with the fight for the title.
“I think it wasn’t the pressure today because it was clear that Max would start from behind,” said Wolff.
“I can’t say why that happened. I don’t think it’s the pressure of the championship. And he wasn’t the only one to whom this happened.”
Hamilton is aiming for his 100th Grand Prix victory from P4 on the grid on Sunday, noting that his record-breaking successes make mistakes like the one in qualifying more noticeable.
“The problem when you have the success that I have is far from perfection, feels a long way off,” said Hamilton.
“I am only human. My dad called me after that and we were just talking about it and you just keep walking.
“Tomorrow I will straighten my racing head and concentrate again and hopefully give you a good race.”
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