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: Oct 19, 2024, 11:28 PM

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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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