Hamilton, who has been vocal about his excitement for the Las Vegas Grand Prix despite ongoing controversies, faced another setback during the Grand Prix.
He failed to secure a spot in Q3. The 38-year-old driver, hailing from Stevenage, cited issues with Mercedes’ tyres as a major hindrance to his performance.
What Happened to Lewis Hamilton in Las Vegas Grand Prix?
In a fateful twist at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Hamilton faced a challenging race that ultimately saw him finish in 7th place after starting in 10th.
The British racing icon encountered early difficulties, losing positions amidst chaotic scenes at the start where multiple cars made contact.
Lewis Hamilton. Photo/SkySports
By lap 7, Hamilton suffered a puncture, relegating him to the back of the grid. Despite a slow lap to address the tyre issue, he showcased resilience, battling his way back up to 7th position in the middle of the race.
In the finishing laps, Hamilton held his ground, crossing the finish line in 7th place. The Las Vegas Grand Prix proved to be a test of skill and determination for Hamilton, who navigated incidents and setbacks to secure a respectable finish.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports after the race, Hamilton admitted that he let his fans down but it was a mechanical issue with his Mercedes W14 vehicle.
“Yeah, it’s not that great. The car just wasn’t working for me. It’s definitely difficult when you can’t even get through Q2, but it is what it is,” he said.
Concerns were further raised when Hamilton expressed uncertainty about his chances of a successful main event on Sunday.
“My guess is as good as yours. We had massive graining like everybody, we had more graining in P3,” he remarked.
Fans React
Despite Hamilton’s determination to bounce back, a section of Formula 1 fans took to social media to call for the British driver to retire from the sport, criticizing his recent performances.
One fan expressed, “Lewis Hamilton, you got to retire bro ur too old,” while another suggested, “Lewis Hamilton must just retire so I can quit watching F1. This Copium will be the death of me.”
Will Lewis Hamilton Retire After Las Vegas Grand Prix?
Hamilton, however, remains committed to his Formula 1 career, having signed a new contract with Mercedes earlier in the year, binding him to the team until 2025.
Despite the recent challenges, Hamilton is still eyeing a historic eighth title in the upcoming season.
Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, defended Hamilton’s performance, shedding light on the grip issues faced during the qualifying session.
Lewis Hamilton. Photo/Eurosport
“He didn’t have any more grip,” Wolff explained when asked about Hamilton’s radio message. He highlighted the delicate balance of temperature differences affecting grip levels and pointed out the impressive laps achieved by other teams.
Wolff added that having the right tyres at the right moment is beneficial to the team
“Having the tyres in the right window, and you can see the difference. We saw it in Free Practice 3. Very difficult to understand,” he explained.
All eyes were on Hamilton during the race and his performance only amplified retirement calls.
However, the legendary Mercedes driver is keen on reasserting his dominance on the Formula 1 circuit. The British racing icon has proven time and again that he thrives under pressure, and the upcoming 2024 season could be another chapter in his storied career.
Teresa is a journalist with years of experience in creating web content. She is a wanderlust at heart, but an outgoing sports writer with focus on tennis, athletics, football, motorsports and NBA.
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