Lewis Hamilton Laments Missed Qualifying Opportunity at Las

Lewis Hamilton Laments Missed Qualifying Opportunity at Las Vegas Grand….read more

Lewis Hamilton’s weekend at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix was a remarkable showcase of his skill and experience. Despite not achieving his ideal qualifying result, the Mercedes driver demonstrated his prowess in Sunday’s race, working his way up from 10th place to finish just behind his teammate, George Russell, in a Mercedes 1-2. While Hamilton was one of the fastest drivers across the weekend, he still expressed frustration over his qualifying performance, believing it kept him from a potential win.

The Las Vegas GP weekend began with a strong start for Hamilton, who topped both practice sessions on Friday. In the first practice session (FP1), he outran his teammate Russell, and in FP2, he managed to set a time faster than McLaren’s Lando Norris. Hamilton looked to be in peak form, consistently leading the field and demonstrating that Mercedes had the pace to challenge for top positions. This dominant performance in the practice sessions set high expectations for Hamilton as he prepared for Saturday’s qualifying.

Qualifying, however, brought an unexpected twist. Although Hamilton showed speed in the early rounds, securing P2 in Q1 and P1 in Q2, he couldn’t capitalize on this momentum when it mattered most. A small error in Q3 cost him significant time and left him qualifying fifth on the grid for Sunday’s race, while his teammate Russell secured pole position with an equally impressive qualifying performance.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Hamilton said after the race, “If I’d done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today.” He acknowledged that a better qualifying result could have set him up for an easier run to the podium. Despite the setback, he was pleased with the car’s performance and felt optimistic that if the car continued to perform at this level, Mercedes could challenge the front-runners in the remaining races of the season.

Hamilton’s race performance on Sunday reinforced his determination. Starting from P10, he skillfully made his way up the field, advancing eight positions to finish in second place. The Mercedes car seemed exceptionally fast, enabling Hamilton to make up for his qualifying misstep. Fans and analysts alike were quick to note that if Hamilton had started closer to the front, he might well have been in contention for victory, possibly adding a 106th win to his career tally.

Although he acknowledged that he missed his chance for pole and potentially the win, Hamilton took a positive view of his recovery and strong pace during the race. He praised Russell’s performance and Mercedes’ success in securing a 1-2 finish, but he also noted the gap that still remains with their top competitors, including Red Bull. “I think the race is kind of done,” he remarked after the qualifying. “Obviously the win is out of the question… A great job from George.” Hamilton’s comments reflected his realistic view of the challenge, though he remained optimistic about Mercedes’ pace.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas GP also saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinch his fourth consecutive world championship title, surpassing his nearest competitor Lando Norris in the driver standings. Verstappen’s victory in the championship put him in the same league as former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, who also won four consecutive titles. Hamilton’s focus on the competition and Mercedes’ continued progress demonstrates his ongoing commitment to his team, even as Verstappen’s dominance marks the current era.

Hamilton’s reflections after the Las Vegas Grand Prix reveal both his competitive spirit and his sense of satisfaction at Mercedes’ improvement. He might have missed out on a potential victory, but his impressive drive from P10 to P2 highlighted his skill, particularly under pressure. The performance of both Hamilton and Russell indicates that Mercedes could continue to challenge for top finishes, especially if they build on their progress from Las Vegas.

Looking ahead, Hamilton’s focus remains on maximizing his performance in the final races of the season. With the season winding down and Mercedes showing signs of closing the gap with the competition, Hamilton’s mindset is geared toward ending the year on a high note. If the car continues to deliver the same performance as it did in Las Vegas, Hamilton and Mercedes may well be able to mount a serious challenge at the front in the upcoming races.