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Lewis Hamilton’s admission that he “didn’t do the job” had significant repercussions and set off a chain of events that ultimately led to him finishing in 10th place in the qualifying session. Despite showing impressive speed in Q2, he was unable to capitalize on the performance of his Mercedes W15 car when it mattered most in Q3.
During Q2, Hamilton was the fastest of all drivers, clocking a time of 1:32.567 to edge out Carlos Sainz of Ferrari by a tenth of a second. However, in Q3, he made two critical errors that ultimately cost him a chance at pole position. The first error occurred when the rear axle of his Mercedes failed to engage while entering Turn 9, forcing him to leave the track and head to the escape area. After quickly recovering the vehicle, he returned to the pits for new tires.
On his second run, while navigating Turn 2, the rear of the car became detached once again, causing him to lose the lap. This left Hamilton in 10th place, while his teammate George Russell secured pole position with a time of 1:32.3. Despite Hamilton’s impressive pace in Q2, he was unable to replicate it in Q3, which would have placed him third on the grid.
Hamilton expressed disappointment at his performance, acknowledging that he had failed to fulfill his obligations and that the car seemed to be operating differently in Q3. He attributed the instability to a tire issue and admitted that the decision to do a preparation lap was a mistake, causing a domino effect that affected his entire session.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Hamilton remained optimistic and emphasized his confidence in his speed. He recognized the need to improve in qualifying, especially when compared to his teammate Russell, who has outperformed him in qualifying sessions throughout the season.
Hamilton attributed the team’s strong performance in Las Vegas to the track conditions getting faster and more enjoyable as the session progressed. He acknowledged that there was still some uncertainty surrounding the car’s performance, particularly in relation to the tires and the temperature.
Reflecting on the qualifying session, Hamilton maintained a positive attitude and focused on the potential for improvement in future races. He expressed a desire to be on pole position but recognized the strengths of his teammate and the importance of teamwork.
Despite the setbacks in qualifying, Hamilton remained upbeat and determined to continue pushing for success in the upcoming events. He highlighted his speed and performance as key assets and expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back from the challenges he faced in Las Vegas.
