Lewis Hamilton’s final flying lap in Sprint Qualifying 3 was compromised by a yellow flag, hindering his performance. This isn’t the first time the seven-time champion has faced this issue during qualifying, prompting fans to voice their frustration on social media.
After impressive runs in SQ1 and SQ2, Hamilton was expected to secure a strong position in SQ3, but that didn’t happen. He started strong, being four-tenths up in Sector 1, but his pace deteriorated in Sectors 2 and 3 due to the yellow flag, ultimately resulting in a P7 finish.
His teammate, George Russell, narrowly missed pole position, finishing just 0.012 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who took the top spot. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris qualified third and fourth, while Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top six.
Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda, and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten. Following a disappointing Friday, fans criticized Mercedes for their strategy in sending Hamilton out early.
One fan commented, “Mercedes has sabotaged Lewis again… it’s unbelievable!” Another added, “Toto needs to stop sabotaging Lewis’ race.”
Others suggested Hamilton could have qualified better if he had been sent out later, with one stating, “Lewis would’ve been on pole if he’d gone out at the right time.”
After qualifying, Hamilton expressed his disappointment about the yellow flag but remained optimistic. He noted, “I was four tenths up, but the yellow flag changed everything.
The team has made progress with the car, and I’m thankful for everyone’s hard work. It’s not over yet; tomorrow we have another chance.”
The 2024 United States Grand Prix will feature the Sprint race on Saturday, followed by the Grand Prix qualifying later that day.
