The Hamilton: “I was ROBBED of pole position,” strong accusation after tumultuous third quarter qualifying session ended in chaos and controversy for Lewis Hamilton, as the seven-time world champion was left stranded in 10th place on the grid after a series of Q3 dramas. A visibly frustrated Hamilton didn’t hold back, stating he “should have been on pole,” igniting debate among fans and experts about what could have been under the neon lights of the Strip.
Hamilton’s Rollercoaster Qualifying Session
Hamilton’s pace throughout the earlier stages of qualifying suggested he was a strong contender for pole position. The Mercedes driver set blistering sector times in Q1 and Q2, showcasing the W14’s newfound speed on the high-speed Las Vegas circuit.
However, Q3 proved to be a nightmare for the British driver. A combination of bad luck, red flags, and strategy missteps left Hamilton unable to put together a clean lap.
Key Moments from Q3:
Red Flag Interruptions: A crash involving Lance Stroll brought out the first red flag just as Hamilton was about to start his flying lap. The disruption forced him to abandon his run and return to the pits.
Traffic Chaos: On his second attempt, Hamilton encountered heavy traffic during the out-lap, compromising his tire preparation and leaving him with suboptimal grip.
Track Limits Violation: In his final push for pole, Hamilton exceeded track limits at Turn 7, leading to the deletion of his fastest lap time and dropping him to P10.
Hamilton’s Reaction: “I Should Have Been on Pole”
Speaking to the media after the session, Hamilton didn’t hide his disappointment:
“I had the pace to take pole today. The car felt incredible, and we were really in the zone. But everything that could go wrong did go wrong in Q3—red flags, traffic, track limits. It’s frustrating because we deserved more.”
Hamilton’s frustration is understandable, as Mercedes had brought significant upgrades to Las Vegas, and the team was confident of challenging Red Bull’s dominance.
Hamilton’s Resilience on Display
Despite the disappointment, Hamilton remains determined to turn his fortunes around.
“This team never gives up, and neither do I. It’s going to be a tough race, but we’ll fight for every position and see what we can achieve.”
