Lewis Hamilton's form in qualifying in 2024 doesn't bode well for his switch to Ferrari next year where he'll be expected to be challenging for pole positions once again.
The seven-time world champion has not had the tools at his disposal to compete with Max Verstappen and co at the front of the grid in recent years.
The 2024 season has continued in a similar vein with Mercedes struggling to close the gap to their rivals.
Ferrari and McLaren have now moved clear on race pace with both Hamilton and George Russell having to make do with fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Neither Mercedes driver has managed to finish higher than fifth this season with nine points separating them both in the Drivers' Championship.
Lewis Hamilton will hope for a better result in Monaco
REUTERS
Russell holds the slender advantage over his team-mate, but it's in qualifying where Russell has been vastly outperforming Hamilton so far.
The 26-year-old has finished ahead of his team-mate in six of the seven qualifying sessions in 2024.
Speaking after qualifying in Imola last weekend, Hamilton admitted that he was unable to find the pace that his team-mate was able to extract from the car on Saturday.
“I think George’s was the maximum pace-wise that our car would do.
"I couldn’t reach that today. Yesterday was looking strong, but good, positive to see us pace-wise a little bit closer.”
He added: "George was pretty quick out there, so I think he probably got the set-up pretty sweet as he has done most of this year.”
Hamilton was eighth-fastest for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with Russell qualifying sixth.
They did switch positions on track at the end as Russell came into the pits for the fastest-lap point.
But Hamilton will unlikely be able to rely on Sunday to save him this time around at the Monaco Grand Prix.
George Russell is leading Lewis Hamilton in qualifying
PA
Qualfying is arguably more important than the race itself with overtaking so difficult around the tight street circuit.
Verstappen, Ferrari and McLaren may once again be out of reach for Mercedes this weekend.
However, Hamilton will be desperate to buck the current trend of lagging behind Russell in qualifying.
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Fred Vasseur will want Lewis Hamilton to perform better in qualifying
PA
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur will also want to see some improvements from Hamilton as he prepares to leave Mercedes next year.
Hamilton will be expected to compete with Charles Leclerc for podiums in 2025 with Ferrari hopeful of further closing the gap to Red Bull.
The British racing superstar is out of practice for competing near the front of the grid, but there's still time for Hamilton to rediscover some of his best form before he departs Mercedes for Ferrari.
