F1 Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton OUT as Ferrari nightmare conti…read more
Lewis Hamilton Struggles as Ferrari’s Woes Persist in Miami Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton endured a disappointing Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix, as he was eliminated in Q2 of qualifying following a tough session that reflected Ferrari’s ongoing struggles. Despite narrowly surviving the first phase of qualifying, the seven-time world champion failed to progress to the final top-10 shootout, eventually settling for 12th on the grid.
The qualifying session began under tense conditions for Hamilton, who hovered perilously close to the Q1 elimination zone. He managed to scrape through to Q2, but his performance failed to improve in the second segment. Unable to extract the pace needed from his Ferrari, Hamilton fell short of making it into Q3, where the top 10 drivers compete for the front spots on Sunday’s grid.
Hamilton’s early exit marks another setback in what has become a frustrating season for the British driver since joining Ferrari. The team has faced consistency issues, and this latest qualifying result adds to a growing list of underwhelming performances. Ferrari, once a dominant force, has struggled to provide Hamilton with a car capable of challenging the front-runners, and Saturday’s result will do little to inspire confidence heading into the race.
Hamilton wasn’t alone in his Q2 disappointment. Rookie Isack Hadjar, driving for Racing Bulls, just missed out on the top ten as well, finishing 11th. Close behind Hamilton was Gabriel Bortoleto in the Sauber, who qualified 13th, followed by Alpine’s Jack Doohan in 14th, and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls in 15th. All five drivers were eliminated in Q2, ending their hopes of a top grid position for the Miami Grand Prix.
Earlier in Q1, there was drama in the pit lane involving Alex Albon. The Williams driver was noted by the stewards after a questionable maneuver where he appeared to force his way into the line of cars exiting the pits. The incident nearly resulted in a collision with Hadjar, prompting an investigation by race officials for a potential pit lane infringement.
Q1 also saw several notable eliminations. Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber was unable to progress, ending his session in 16th. Aston Martin’s veteran driver Fernando Alonso had a surprise exit, finishing 17th, while his teammate Lance Stroll followed in 19th. Pierre Gasly, representing Alpine, was knocked out in 18th place. Rounding off the bottom of the timesheets was Ollie Bearman, the young Haas substitute, who struggled to get up to speed and finished 20th.
With Hamilton starting outside the top 10 and Ferrari still appearing off the pace, the team faces an uphill battle on Sunday. Questions will once again be raised about Ferrari’s development path and Hamilton’s ability to contend for podiums given the current performance of the car.
The Miami Grand Prix promises to be an exciting but challenging race, especially for those who find themselves mired in the midfield battle. For Hamilton and Ferrari, it may take strategic brilliance or some help from the chaos of race day to turn around what has been a difficult weekend so far.
