In a dramatic and rain-soaked qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q1 and is set to start last on the grid (P20) for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver aborted his final flying lap after struggling for grip in treacherous conditions, leaving him stranded at the bottom of the timing charts.
Hamilton had earlier been hovering around the drop zone with a 1:57.578, unable to improve as heavy standing water and puddles made the circuit unpredictable. While Max Verstappen went fastest with a 1:55.064, Hamilton failed to find the pace needed to escape elimination.
Q1 Eliminations:
16. Alex Albon
17. Kimi Antonelli
18. Gabriel Bortoleto
19. Yuki Tsunoda
20. Lewis Hamilton
A massive setback for Hamilton, who now faces the daunting task of fighting through the field from P20 in Saturday’s race under the Vegas lights.
