Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare qualifying session in Las Vegas, ending last (P20) in his Ferrari after a rain-hit and confusing Q1. The seven-time world champion looked visibly puzzled as he stepped out of the car, and later explained the bizarre end to his session.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hamilton addressed two major moments:
🔶 On the cone reportedly stuck under his car
Hamilton said he wasn’t even aware of it:
“I couldn’t really see to be honest.”
Visibility was already a big problem through the wet conditions, and Hamilton struggled for grip throughout the session before ultimately aborting his final lap.
🔶 On the confusion over the chequered flag
Some believed Hamilton may have missed the timing, but he clarified there was no error from his side:
“As I came across the line it was red, so there was no miscommunication from my side. It was red for me, so I’m not quite sure.”
Whether the miscommunication came from race control or elsewhere remains unclear, but the result is certain — Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 and will start P20 for tomorrow’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
A tough Saturday for Ferrari, and a huge mountain for Hamilton to climb on race day.
