After a strong performance in the sprint race, Lewis Hamilton was disappointed with a lackluster qualifying round in Miami. Despite finishing third in the sprint race on Saturday, he only managed to clock the twelfth fastest time later in the day. The seven-time world champion cited significant issues with Ferrari, struggling to even reach Q3. The biggest stumbling block? The unpredictability of his vehicle.
Hamilton’s Saturday at the Miami Autodrome started promisingly. The Brit climbed from the seventh starting position to a podium spot during the second sprint race of the year. The sprint format seems to suit him well – he even crossed the finish line first during the inaugural Saturday race in Shanghai. However, this did not make the qualifying for the regular Grand Prix any less challenging. Hamilton failed to improve his lap time in Q2, resulting in a twelfth-place finish.
‘It’s so inconsistent every time’
Where do these fluctuations in performance come from? After the session, Hamilton was asked about possible upgrades that could make the SF-25 more predictable. “We keep trying, we’re only six races in,” responded the 40-year-old driver. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re having a really hard time. We’re doing our utmost to avoid making major changes to the setup, but no matter what we try, every time we hit the track it’s so inconsistent.”
“We’re having issues with the brakes, we’re struggling with instability, and overall we’re just not fast enough,” Hamilton listed. “It’s already tough to make it to Q3. With such a deficit, it’s obviously going to be a huge challenge to score points.” Hamilton – who later described Ferrari’s balance as ‘a mess’ – predicted little good for the upcoming Grand Prix. “It’s going to be hard work, but we’ll just try again tomorrow,” he concluded. “I’m used to it by now – it is what it is. We keep looking for solutions. I’ll be back in the factory next week.”
