Lewis Hamilton reveals reason for Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying nightmare

Lewis Hamilton with the Las Vegas sign — Photo: © LAT Images

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Hamilton reveals reason for Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying nightmare

The seven-time world champion failed to make it out of Q2

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Saturday 18 November 2023 16:37

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that changes made to his car overnight put him 'on the back foot' in FP3, before struggling to piece a lap together during qualifying at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion will start Sunday's race from 10th, after a grid penalty for Carlos Sainz pushed him up the order.

However, Hamilton was not able to make it into Q3 for the second time in the three US-based races this season, after being caught out by track evolution.

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Both Williams cars managed to qualify ahead of the Brit, along with an Alfa Romeo, the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Pierre Gasly's Alpine.

Lewis Hamilton has been enjoying himself at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but his performance hasn't been quite up to scratch just yet

Charles Leclerc put in a fine lap at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to snatch pole position

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate George Russell will start the Las Vegas Grand Prix from third

Hamilton's team-mate George Russell managed to put his car onto the second row of the grid, and will be starting behind three-time world champion Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Mercedes' overnight car changes

Now, Hamilton has explained to Sky Sports F1 quite what went wrong at the Las Vegas Street Circuit.

“Just not that great," he admitted.

"Yesterday was a little bit better and we were looking relatively competitive. Made some changes over night, FP3 was pretty poor. Kind of put me on the back foot, and then I was just trying to recover basically in qualifying which is never the place to do so.

"Just struggled with the grip, car just wasn’t working for me and it’s definitely difficult when you can’t even get through Q2, but it is what it is.”