Lewis Hamilton had his best chance of pole position in 2024. The record holder for the exercise in Formula 1 – who has been weaned from pole since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, almost a year and a half ago – had everything to put end to this famine. The pace, the car, the favorable conditions. Second in Q1, best time in Q2, the Briton was logically favorite to secure a 105th pole position in Formula 1… alas, when the moment that counts, Q3, everything went wrong for the seven-time world champion.
In his first attempt, the Englishman went wide at turn 14, forced to go through the loophole to avoid the wall. Put under pressure in his last – and therefore only – attempt at Q3, Lewis Hamilton lost everything from the second turn, with the rear of his Mercedes stalling on this long straight at high speed. Result: no timed lap and a very sad 10th place, far from the expectations and hopes founded after the Free Practice. At the same time, his teammate George Russell took pole position…
For Hamilton, “ victory is no longer on the agenda” in Las Vegas
“Things didn’t work out when they needed to. I tried, but it didn't work, admits Lewis Hamilton, disappointed to have missed a golden opportunity in Las Vegas. I should have been on pole… But at least I have pace, which is a good thing this weekend, that's the positive thing to take away. » For the Briton, 10th place on the grid buries any hope of victory on Saturday evening. “I think my race is kind of already over. It's clear that victory is no longer on the agenda, but George did a good job. »
In fairly cool weather conditions, the Mercedes were the most comfortable cars in Sin City. Suddenly in difficulty in Q3, Lewis Hamilton did not explain why his W15 had become so unstable. Moreover, the German team has not yet found the real reason. “He was the fastest in Q2, the car was good, we have to analyze what happened”declared Toto Wolff after qualifying. The Briton will however be able to rely on an interesting race pace displayed during Free Practice by the Mercedes to move up the hierarchy, with supposedly slower cars in front of him like the Haas of Nico Hülkenberg, the Racing Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda or the Alpine by Pierre Gasly.
READ ALSO > George Russell: “It’s incredible to be back in pole position”
