Lewis Hamilton hoping for ‘rain dance’ at the Chinese Grand Prix - “The car is massively different, we changed a lot”

Lewis Hamilton wishes the 2024 F1 Chinese Grand Prix to be held in wet conditions, as he revealed that the Mercedes W15 is modified to perform accordingly.

Hamilton failed to get himself out of Q1 during the qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit on Saturday. He qualified at P18, quite far at the back, compared to his teammate George Russell, who will start the race 10 places above him, in P8.

As the Mercedes driver said after the session, the car (W15) is modified. He added that rain would be of great advantage to the team.

"The car is massively different. We changed a lot. I hope it rains tomorrow now. I need the rain so the rain dance. I need everyone to do it!"

Lewis Hamilton's P18 qualifying position came as a shock to many, as he finished the sprint race earlier on Saturday in P2, right behind world championship leader Max Verstappen. This was his best finish of the season.

However, the 39-year-old also mentioned that his Q1 exit was because of a mistake he made during his final hotlap, and he felt like he needed another lap.

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Lewis Hamilton on P18 qualifying position in China: "It was my mistake"

F1 returned to racing in China for the first time since 2019. Although the track was still under contract, the races were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver on this circuit with six victories, struggled to get himself out of Q1. Talking about the session, he said that a lock-up on turn 14 kept him from putting in a competitive laptime. He said:

"I woulda, shoulda got through easy," F1 quoted him. "It was my mistake. I just struggled I think to stop the car in Turn 14, it just kept locking. Maybe I needed one more lap."

Turn 14 is the hairpin-like corner on the track right after the back straight. Multiple drivers faced issues in keeping their cars in the perfect position going through that corner, and the seven-time world champion was another victim. This was the first time since the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP when Lewis Hamilton failed to pull himself out of Q1.

Mercedes is coping with what has been their worst start to a season in over a decade. Their performance has gradually declined in the new aerodynamic era, as they stand fourth in the championship.