F1 News: Lewis Hamilton's Pessimistic Abu Dhabi Qualifying Prediction Came True

"Even just getting into Q3 is a challenge," said Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton predicted on Friday that it would be an uphill task for the team to enter into Q3 after the limited amount of time he got to spend in his W14. Considering today's qualifying results, his predictions came true as he finished P11 after he got knocked out in Q2 in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton was away from his F1 car in the opening session on Friday as Mercedes rookie driver Frederik Vesti took over the wheel to comply with the sport's rookie rule. But when Hamilton headed out in Q2, the session didn't last long enough due to a couple of red flags.

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Early in the Q2 session, Carlos Sainz crashed his Ferrari SF-23, which caused a lengthy red flag delay. When the track was open again, it was Nico Hulkenberg who crashed again and caused another red flag situation. 

Gauging the performance from the limited time he spent in the car, Hamilton predicted that getting into Q3 would be quite a task. The seven-time world champion got only four laps in the disrupted FP2 where he finished P8. 

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 on whether he was happy with his Friday run, here's what Hamilton said:

“Not particularly, no. It was not the greatest of days.

“I think I only got probably four timed laps really, so that’s not a lot in a day in terms of your knowledge of the car and the track.

“But the car doesn’t feel bad. I think we’re not in a terrible place. I hope I get some more running tomorrow.”

If Hamilton repeated his FP2 result, he might have been able to make it to Q3. But, having missed the Q3 run last weekend in Las Vegas and with a P12 finish in FP3, the 38-year-old was uncertain if the pace was good enough to take him into round three of qualifying. 

Hamilton was right in his analysis as his prediction came true. Here's what he had to say on Friday when he was asked if he would be able to make it up the order into Q3:

“At the moment, no.

“Just going to try and see if there’s a way to get into Q3.

“We’ve had difficult qualifying sessions and getting out of Q1 into Q2, for example, has always been a tough battle. And even just getting into Q3 is a challenge.

“So the work tomorrow morning, it just has to be making sure that we can try and get into Q3, but I think it’s going to be close.”

Despite qualifying results, Hamilton is very familiar with the Yas Marina Circuit, having won five Grands Prix there already, more than any driver in the sport's history. Maybe his experience could elevate him to higher positions in the Grand Prix on Sunday.