F1 Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton knocked OUT as Ferrari Nightmare C…read more
F1 Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton OUT as Ferrari Nightmare C…read more
Lewis Hamilton faced another challenging Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix, failing to advance beyond Q2 in a qualifying session that highlighted Ferrari’s persistent struggles. The seven-time world champion will start the race from 12th on the grid after a session where he couldn’t extract the necessary pace from his car.
Despite narrowly escaping elimination in Q1, Hamilton couldn’t improve his performance in the second qualifying phase. His inability to secure a spot in the top-10 shootout for Sunday’s grid underscores the difficulties he has faced since joining the Scuderia. Ferrari, a team with a rich history of success, has yet to provide Hamilton with a car consistently capable of competing at the front of the field. This latest result will undoubtedly fuel further questions about the team’s development direction.
Hamilton was not the only notable driver to be knocked out in Q2. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar narrowly missed the cut, finishing in 11th place. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto will start 13th, followed by Alpine’s Jack Doohan in 14th and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls in 15th.
Earlier in Q1, there was a moment of controversy involving Williams driver Alex Albon, who is under investigation by the stewards for an alleged pit lane infringement. He appeared to move aggressively into the line of cars exiting the pits, nearly causing a collision with Hadjar.
Several other drivers were eliminated in the first qualifying session. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg finished 16th, while Aston Martin endured a disappointing session with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll ending up in 17th and 19th respectively. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly qualified 18th, and Haas substitute Ollie Bearman rounded out the grid in 20th.
With Hamilton starting outside the top ten and Ferrari seemingly lacking the outright pace, the team faces a significant challenge in Sunday’s race. They will likely need to rely on strategic calls or capitalize on any on-track incidents to improve their positions. The Miami Grand Prix is shaping up to be a demanding race, particularly for those starting in the midfield. For Hamilton and Ferrari, it will require a herculean effort to salvage a positive result from a difficult weekend.
