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The admission that Lewis Hamilton “didn’t do the job” resulted in a “domino effect” that caused him to finish in 10th place despite being the fastest in Q2. His errors in Q3 ultimately cost him pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s performance in Q2 was stellar, setting the fastest time of all drivers with a 1:32.567. He outpaced Carlos Sainz of Ferrari by a tenth of a second, showing the potential for a strong qualifying session. However, in Q3, two critical mistakes derailed his chances of securing pole position.
The first error occurred as he approached Turn 9, where the rear axle of his Mercedes failed to engage, forcing him to leave the track and re-enter through an escape area. Despite recovering quickly, he had to pit for new tires, losing valuable time in the process. On his second run, a similar issue arose in Turn 2, causing Hamilton to lose control and invalidate his lap.
As a result, Hamilton finished in 10th place, while his teammate George Russell claimed pole position with a time of 1:32.3. Hamilton’s fastest time from Q2 would have placed him third on the grid, highlighting the missed opportunity for a front-row start.
In post-qualifying interviews, Hamilton acknowledged his mistakes and expressed disappointment in his performance. He attributed the errors to a lack of stability in the car during Q3, despite having a strong showing in the previous sessions. Hamilton remained optimistic about his pace and ability to bounce back in upcoming races.
The qualifying struggles mark a rare setback for the seven-time F1 World Champion, who has been outperformed by Russell in qualifying sessions throughout the 2024 season. While Hamilton’s race pace has improved, he identified the qualifying error as a key factor in his unstable performance.
Hamilton recognized the impact of tire management on his qualifying result, noting that a decision to conduct a preparation lap had unintended consequences. He highlighted the changing track conditions and temperature as factors contributing to the instability in the rear of the car during Q3.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Hamilton maintained a positive outlook and emphasized the importance of learning from the experience. He expressed excitement for future opportunities to secure pole position and contribute to the team’s success.
In conclusion, Lewis Hamilton’s admission of error in the Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session led to a missed opportunity for pole position. Despite the setback, Hamilton remains determined to improve and showcase his speed and talent in the upcoming races.
