Lewis Hamilton apologized to his Ferrari team and admitted he is `not doing a good enough job` after qualifying ninth for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Hamilton`s largely underwhelming start to his first season with the Italian team continued in Saturday`s qualifying session at the Bahrain International Circuit as he finished six places – and six-tenths of a second – behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was third as McLaren`s Oscar Piastri took pole.
Ferrari brought an upgraded floor to Bahrain but it seemed to provide little improvement for the seven-time world champion as he qualified behind the likes of Alpine`s Pierre Gasly and Williams` Carlos Sainz.
Having apologised to his team over the radio at the end of the session, Hamilton told source: `It`s just about my performance, poor performance.
`There`s no reasons, (I`m) just not doing the job.`
Speaking to source, Hamilton then added: `I`m just really sorry to all the team back at the factory, really sorry to the tifosi.`
Hamilton claimed his first Ferrari victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, but his best finish in a full-length race was seventh last weekend in Japan, while his best starting position was fifth in China.
Speaking to the written media after qualifying in Bahrain, he said: `I`m just not doing a good enough job on my side so I`ve just got to keep improving.`
Asked whether it was the lowest feeling he had experienced since joining Ferrari, he added: `It`s definitely not a good feeling, for sure.`
`Hopefully top five. I`ll try to see if I can get into the top five, we`ll see,` he said of his prospects.
Chandhok: Hamilton sounded just like last year
Karun Chandhok found Hamilton`s downcast interview reminiscent of last season, when the Brit was often left frustrated as his former team-mate George Russell scored a 19-5 head-to-head record over him.
`I heard his comments today and he sounded completely like he was on the floor,` Chandhok said.
`If I closed my eyes, it was like watching him wear the Mercedes uniform last year.
`Didn`t it just sound like him last year? How many times last year did we hear him say, `I can`t qualify.`
`I just closed my eyes and thought, `Is he in a Mercedes race-suit again?` It just felt like last year again. I don`t know what`s happened.`
Asked whether he believes Hamilton can bounce back or whether age is taking its toll on his one-lap performance, Chandhok added: `With age, the thing that you lose is the ultimate speed in qualifying, but six-tenths to Leclerc, it was a lot.`
Sky Sports F1`s Bahrain GP schedule
Sunday April 13
- 10.50am: F3 Feature Race
- 12.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 2.30pm: Bahrain GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 4pm: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
- 6pm: Bahrain GP reaction: Chequered Flag
- 7pm: Ted`s Notebook
Formula 1 continues its triple-header in Sakhir at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
Gilbert Pendleton 
Wesley Dunham