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Lewis Hamilton faced a ‘nightmare qualifying’ session on Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas. Struggling with balance, he had to settle for a disappointing nineteenth position. The record-holder at this American venue is considering starting from the pit lane to address the issues with his W15 ahead of the race. Despite this setback, he qualified seventh for the sprint and ended the race in sixth place.
“‘HAM-BOT’ is back,” fans enthusiastically declared on social media. This duo, which once dominated the circuit, found themselves at the back of the pack in Austin. Valtteri Bottas, driving a sluggish Sauber, and Hamilton, eager to lay his frustrating qualifying experience behind him, were both in challenging positions. While Hamilton ended up nineteenth, a grid penalty for Liam Lawson allows him to start from eighteenth.
Challenges of Qualifying
Hamilton explained the complications he faced during the session, stating, “During the sprint, we noticed a kind of defect in the front suspension as early as the formation lap, and it remained an issue throughout the race.” He elaborated on how this malfunction led to unpredictable handling. “We tried making adjustments, but that .comy seemed to exacerbate the problems; it felt like we amplified yesterday’s issues. The car was a nightmare to drive during qualifying,” he lamented to reporters in Austin.
Pit Lane Start Consideration
Although Hamilton managed to move up one place due to the ‘back of the grid’ penalty imposed on Liam Lawson, he is contemplating a pit lane start for the race. The W15 is in desperate need of tuning to compete for a top-ten position. “It appears I might need to start from the pits; otherwise, it could be a total loss,” said the seven-time world champion.
Performance Woes at the Circuit of the Americas
When asked about the car’s specific struggles at the Circuit of the Americas, Hamilton replied, “The balance is incredibly inconsistent. Furthermore, we simply can’t find grip anywhere on the track.” This marks a significant moment in Hamilton’s career as it’s the first time in twelve seasons that he has failed to qualify in the top five at Austin, a track where he has previously started from pole position multiple times. While he holds the record for the most wins at this Texas circuit, with a total of six victories, this latest performance has raised eyebrows.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming race is a pivotal moment for Hamilton and his team. With the pressures of both competitive performance and fan expectations weighing heavily, the focus will be on how they can leverage any last-minute adjustments to the W15 and strategize effectively for the race. The potential for starting from the pit lane adds an element of unpredictability, which could either hinder or help Hamilton’s chances of success on race day.
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