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Lewis Hamilton’s admission that he “didn’t do the job” resulted in a chain reaction of events that ultimately led to him finishing in 10th place during the qualifying session. Despite being the fastest in Q2, Hamilton struggled in Q3 due to two critical errors that cost him a shot at pole position.
During the qualifying session in Las Vegas, Hamilton’s Mercedes showed excellent pace, but he failed to capitalize on it when it mattered most. George Russell, his teammate, secured pole position after a strong performance on Saturday. Hamilton, on the other hand, found himself unable to replicate his Q2 performance in the crucial moments of Q3.
In Q2, Hamilton was the fastest driver, clocking a time of 1:32.567 to beat Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by a tenth of a second. He had been trailing Russell by less than half a tenth in Q1, setting himself up as a strong contender for pole position. However, things took a turn for the worse in Q3.
On his initial flying lap in Q3, Hamilton encountered an issue with the rear axle of his Mercedes, forcing him to leave the track and head to the escape area. After recovering the vehicle and getting new tires, he started his second run only to have the rear of his car come loose again, causing him to lose control and the lap.
As a result, Hamilton ended up in 10th place, while Russell secured pole position with a time of 1:32.3. Had Hamilton been able to replicate his Q2 time in Q3, he would have been in third place on the grid. When asked about missing the opportunity for pole position, Hamilton accepted responsibility for his mistakes and acknowledged that he had not fulfilled his obligations.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remains optimistic about his speed and performance. He recognizes that he made an error during the qualifying session and attributes it to the challenging conditions and tire strategy. He noted that the track conditions were changing rapidly, making it difficult to maintain stability in the rear of the car.
Hamilton emphasized that he and Mercedes are still unsure about the root cause of their performance issues in Q3 but believe it may be related to tire temperature and grip levels. He acknowledged the sudden deterioration in performance but remained positive about the overall pace of the car.
While disappointed in his 10th-place finish, Hamilton maintained a positive outlook on the situation, stating that he is in a great mood and eager to fight for pole position in future races. He recognized Russell’s success as beneficial for the team and expressed confidence in his own abilities to bounce back in the upcoming events.
Looking ahead, Hamilton is focused on learning from his mistakes and regaining his competitive edge in the next qualifying sessions. He remains determined to showcase his speed and reclaim his position as a top contender in the F1 World Championship.
