Hamilton: Vegas F1 Win Would Have Been “Easy” Without Qualifying Mistakes

Lewis Hamilton admitted that securing a Formula 1 victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix would have been “easy” if he had avoided the mistakes made during qualifying on Friday.

Hamilton Reflects on Qualifying Mistakes

The British driver struggled during both laps of Q3, initially getting blocked at Turn 14 on his first attempt and then losing control at Turn 4 on his second, which led to the cancellation of that lap. Hamilton’s best time in Q2 was enough to secure P3 on the grid, but he ultimately started the race in P10 and had to fight his way up.

His early overtakes on Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, and Yuki Tsunoda helped him climb the ranks, eventually showcasing a strong pace that allowed him to compete with the leaders. Despite catching up to teammate George Russell, Hamilton’s push for the win was halted.

Hamilton’s Post-Race Thoughts

“It was amazing,” Hamilton said after the race. “First, I have to congratulate Max Verstappen for winning the championship, although there are still many races left.”

He added:
“If I had done my job yesterday, today would have been much easier. But it’s okay. I was really happy to come back from 10th, and the whole team did a great job. We don’t know why we were so fast this weekend, but it was the best feeling I’ve ever had in this car.”

Hamilton noted that the cold weather likely contributed to Mercedes’ pace, as warmer conditions often hinder their performance. “If the car runs like this in the next few races, we’ll be in a strong position to challenge those ahead,” he said, adding that with the championship over, the focus would be on securing the best possible finish.

Teammate George Russell, who claimed the win at Las Vegas, described his victory as a “dream weekend” and expressed surprise at how Mercedes maintained their speed throughout the event.

He reflected on the chaos he expected behind him, admitting that it was a shock to find himself leading the race with little resistance. “I planned to fly out in a few hours, but I’m definitely not taking that flight—I’ll be enjoying this evening with the whole team,” Russell said.

Russell continued:
“It’s a dream weekend. I don’t know how we were so fast, but right now I’m just riding the wave. I can’t even describe this place.”

On securing the pole position, he said:
“To win here, to get the pole, a weekend like this, a 1-2 with Lewis—there’s no better place to make this happen.”

Russell added that he was waiting for something to go wrong, as previous wins had been marked by chaos, such as the Brazil GP with the red flag. “I felt confident here; I had a good gap, but I was just waiting for something to happen,” he said, but fortunately, no incidents interfered with his race. “So I guess my luck has finally turned!”