P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton’s disastrous Las Vegas GP F1 qualifying went beyond just him backing off and not pushing for a final Q1 effort
Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties during the Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session extended beyond just him not pushing for a final Q1 effort. Another setback added to what he described as his most challenging year in Formula 1.
Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished last in the first qualifying segment and will start the race from the 20th position on the grid.
Despite the opportunity for another lap in qualifying, Hamilton believed that his pace was not strong enough to make a difference.
His final push lap was disrupted when he hit a bollard that got stuck under his car, slowing him down in the frantic last minutes.
Hamilton’s troubles continued when he encountered yellow flags, forcing him to lift off and abandon the lap, leading to his disappointing last-place grid position.
Reflecting on the weekend, Hamilton acknowledged the discrepancy between his high hopes for a strong performance and the reality of starting at the back of the grid, making this season his toughest yet.
