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Inside the brain chemistry of F1 high performance

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Formula 1 United States GP

Lewis Hamilton in shock Q1 exit at US GP

Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q1 at Austin for the 2024 US GP

Jonathan Noble
Jonathan Noble
Edited:
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Tiffany Cromwell and Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer, Scuderia Ferrari with Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andy Cowell, Group CEO, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 chassis detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 steering wheel of Sergio Perez

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 nose detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The grid with a view of Turn 1 ahead of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, gets out of the car on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren pit stop wheel gun

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Shaboozey and Gordon Ramsey pose in front of the car of Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, the rest of the field away

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Race start, as drivers race into the first corner

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the remainder of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 battles with Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, congratulate each other in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Sting with the Sprint top 3: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Marshals clear away the car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, is moved away on a flatbed truck

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 wooden plank detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, watches down the pit lane

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas F1 Team pitstop wheel guns

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mondo Duplantis and his fiancée Desiré Inglander

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pato O'Ward, Reserve Driver, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, parks his car in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, and Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team for Sky Sports F1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, chats with Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, receives his Pirelli Pole Position Award from Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Top three qualifiers Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
99

Lewis Hamilton labelled his Mercedes Formula 1 car's set-up as "a mess", after his qualifying struggles continued at the United States Grand Prix after he was dramatically knocked out in Q1.

The Mercedes driver had left it late in the first qualifying segment to try to get through to Q2, but it all went wrong as he failed to produce the lap time needed.

While he was slightly up on the cutoff point in the first sector, it all went wrong under braking for Turn 12 at the end of the back straight.

He appeared to run deep and, as he struggled to get the car turned in, he suffered some snap oversteer on the exit. As a result, his second sector time ended up being half a second adrift of what team-mate George Russell did and left him in the drop zone.

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As a number of other drivers improved in the closing stages of Q1, Hamilton ended up 19th overall at the end – less than one tenth of a second ahead of Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu.

Hamilton reckoned his Q1 exit stemmed from the front suspension issue that he carried during the sprint, and the subsequent set-up changes made the car "a nightmare".

"I mean, it's been pretty terrible. The car felt great yesterday, so I obviously came really optimistic for today," Hamilton explained.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

"[In the sprint] something failed in the front suspension, literally as we pulled away from the line for the formation lap, and I had that through the race.

"They figured that out, they changed the corner, but it felt like a mess throughout quali."

Hamilton also told Sky F1 that "we should probably start from the pitlane, because otherwise I won't be going anywhere from where I am. It's just a very inconsistent balance and no grip."

Hamilton’s Q1 exit was his first since the Chinese GP when he ended up 18th on the grid, and is his worst qualifying result of the 2024 campaign.

The Mercedes driver will gain at least one position on the US GP starting grid with RB’s Liam Lawson set to serve a back of the grid penalty for a complete power unit change outside of his allocation.

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