Lewis Hamilton is set to begin the Las Vegas Grand Prix from the very back after being knocked out of Q1 as the slowest driver, a shock result for the Ferrari star. The difficult qualifying run left him with no chance to recover.
A deeper review of Hamilton’s team radio during the final moments of Q1 exposed a moment of “confusion”, as described by Sky F1 analyst Bernie Collins. Hamilton backed off when he saw a red signal on his Ferrari dashboard, mistakenly believing he could not start another flying lap.
Collins’ colleague, Simon Lazenby, added a lighthearted jab by wondering how Ferrari chairman John Elkann would react to the mishap, referencing the drama that followed the team’s outing in Brazil. The exchange highlighted the pressure surrounding Ferrari’s recent performances.
Hamilton had gone into the weekend feeling optimistic after Thursday practice, saying he was satisfied with the SF-25 and didn’t plan on making major adjustments. His confidence, however, didn’t survive the chaotic qualifying session.
As the rain poured down over Las Vegas, Hamilton’s weekend quickly fell apart. The slippery conditions and the radio mix-up combined to leave him stuck at the bottom of the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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