Lewis Hamilton was left to lament two critical mistakes during the Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session, which dashed his hopes of challenging teammate George Russell for pole position. The seven-time world champion, who had shown blistering pace throughout practice, will start Sunday’s race from a disappointing 10th on the grid.
Hamilton: “The Car Felt Different in Q3”
Hamilton attributed his struggles in Q3 to an unexpected instability in his Mercedes W15, which he described as feeling completely different compared to earlier sessions.
“The car felt different in Q3, and the stability was not there for some reason, but I’d had it in all the other sessions,” Hamilton explained. “Ultimately, I didn’t put the laps together.”
The Briton made his first mistake with a lock-up at Turn 14 on his opening run, followed by losing the rear at the sweeping Turn 3 on his final attempt.
Recurring Qualifying Challenges
Hamilton acknowledged that inconsistency during crucial qualifying moments has been a persistent issue for both him and Mercedes throughout the 2024 season.
“We think it’s tyres. But honestly, we don’t know why we’re fast when we are, or why it goes away. It must be something to do with temperatures,” he noted.
He also questioned the team’s decision to opt for a prep lap strategy in Q3, suggesting it disrupted his rhythm.
“The tyres were difficult. That’s why we did a prep lap, but I think that was the wrong call on my side. And then it kind of domino-effected from there.”
Hamilton Staying Positive Despite the Setback
Despite his errors and the resulting grid position, Hamilton remained upbeat about his prospects for Sunday’s race, pointing to the inherent pace of the W15.
“I feel great, to be honest. I wish I was on pole, but George is on pole. It’s great for the team,” he said. “It’s not a stinger. I’ll move forwards.”
Hamilton, who is set to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, sees the Las Vegas GP as one of his final chances to secure a victory with the team he has called home since 2013. With two more races to follow, he remains optimistic about turning his pace into strong results.
“I’ve got three shots. Three pops at it. Two more pops in the next races, and we’ll see how it goes. The good thing is I’ve got pace.”
Race Day Redemption?
Starting from 10th, Hamilton faces a tough challenge on Las Vegas’ high-speed, low-grip circuit. However, with strong long-run pace and the unpredictability of street racing, Hamilton will be eager to carve his way through the field and potentially join Russell on the podium—or even fight for the win.
