He was 1.4 seconds slower than Ferrari's Carlos Sainz's fastest lap and 0.6 seconds slower than new teammate George Russell.
The 2022 Formula 1 season got underway with the Bahrain GP where Ferrari claimed a 1-2 finish and Red Bull struggled for pace and reliability.
Mercedes have had to deal with a slew of problems since pre-season testing and nobody expected them to finish on the podium.
Mercedes has had a rocky start to the new era of Formula One, with Hamilton qualifying fifth fastest for the season-opening Bahrain GP.
The beginning of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's storied 2021 rivalry came all the way back in the Bahrain GP of the last season.
The first race of the season might very well see some newer faces on the podium, but the usual suspects should never be counted out.
They appeared to be a notable victim of the "porpoising" issue that many teams have experienced as a result of the new technical regulations.
The Frenchman also revealed that he would not have been able to keep up Hamilton if they were in their 2021 cars.
The seven-time World Champion remains one title bereft of a world record and believes he will be more dangerous in the upcoming season.
Ahead of the 2022 F1 season, we take a look back and chart the drivers with the most number of world championships.