Hamilton starts qualifying with new gearbox

Lewis Hamilton will start Saturday's qualifying with a new gearbox. The Mercedes driver hopes to secure pole position.

The British driver is not the only driver to hit the track with a new gearbox this weekend. Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Kimi Räikkönen, Antonio Giovinazzi, George Russell, Nicholas Latifi and Lando Norris will also drive with a new variant.

NEW GEARBOXES for Hamilton, Ricciardo, Stroll Alonso, Ocon, Sainz, Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Russell, Latifi and Norris #DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/lm06dUtGhA

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) September 3, 2021

Problems for Hamilton

The seven-time world champion came to Zandvoort with a lot of enthusiasm prior to this race weekend, but had to deal with a disappointment in the second free practice. Within ten minutes Hamilton had to abandon the practice session when he lost power with his engine.

In the first free practice Hamilton left a better impression. He set the fastest time of the morning and was faster than his rival Max Verstappen who finished second.