Lewis Hamilton’s disastrous Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying went beyond just him backing off and not pushing for a final Q1 effort – as another disappointment compounded what he says has been his “hardest year” in Formula 1.<\/p>\n
The Ferrari driver was slowest in the first qualifying segment in Las Vegas to get dumped out of Q1 and will start Saturday’s race from 20th on the grid.<\/p>\n
Much has been made of Hamilton backing off at the end of Q1 rather than pushing on for a final effort, having got across the line just before the chequered flag.<\/p>\n
However, while the opportunity may have been there to get another lap in, Hamilton reckoned that his pace was not strong enough for it to make any difference.<\/p>\n
“I had a yellow flag in the last corner and, going into Turn 17, there was a yellow flag so I had to lift,” he said.<\/p>\n
“[When I] came across the line it was red [the lights above the starting grid]. But I didn’t have the grip anyway, so I don’t think it would have made much difference.”<\/p>\n
Hamilton’s efforts had already been derailed by then in the frantic final minutes of the session when he hit a bollard which appeared to get stuck under his car and cost him pace during what would be his final push lap.<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton is OUT of Qualifying! \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n
He is set to line up in P20 for tomorrow’s Las Vegas Grand Prix #F1<\/a> #LasVegasGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aRR2bhkfS1<\/a><\/p>\n