Lewis Hamilton Claims He ‘Should Have Been on Pole’ at Las Vegas Grand Prix Despite Q3 Drama

Hamilton’s Disappointment in Q3

Lewis Hamilton was visibly disappointed after his qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, stating that he “should have been on pole” despite the challenges of Q3. The Mercedes driver had shown impressive pace earlier in the weekend, topping the timesheets in both FP1 and FP2 on Thursday night. However, his hopes for pole position were dashed during the final qualifying phase.

Hamilton struggled with a heavy lock-up on his first Q3 attempt, and a wild slide through Turn 3 on his second run further hindered his performance. As a result, Hamilton ended up 10th on the grid for the race, while his teammate George Russell managed to secure pole position.

Hamilton Reflects on the Missed Opportunity

Reflecting on his session, Hamilton explained, “Yeah, it didn’t work when it mattered. I tried, but it didn’t come off. I should have been on pole. At least I’ve got pace, which is a good showing over the weekend, and that’s the positive to take from it.”

Although Hamilton acknowledged his strong pace over the weekend, he remained disheartened about his grid position. When asked if his performance in qualifying gave him confidence for the race, he responded, “Not really. I think the race is kind of done. Obviously, the win is out of the question… A great job from George.”

Mercedes’ Optimism for the Race

Despite Hamilton’s disappointment, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shared his frustration but remained hopeful for the race ahead. He stated, “It would have been a front row. I think we had a car to have the front row, and that would have given us some good opportunities for tomorrow.”

However, Wolff was optimistic about Hamilton’s ability to recover during the race, noting, “The car looks quick. There’s a few that he should be able to overtake right away, and then hopefully he can play for a win tomorrow.”

Possibility of a Mercedes One-Two

When asked about the chance of a Mercedes one-two, Wolff admitted, “This is a long shot, but I think if the car is not graining too much, I think Lewis can make it all the way back onto a podium position.”

As the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaches, Hamilton and Mercedes remain focused on making up positions and aiming for the best possible finish, despite the challenges faced in qualifying.