Yellow Flags Dash Hamilton’s Pole Hopes Despite Mercedes’ Major Upgrade Boost at US Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton laments yellow flag, believing he had done 'ample for pole position'

Lewis Hamilton was certain he would have secured the pole position for the United States Grand Prix sprint race if not for the yellow flags.

Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over the timing of yellow flags, which he believed prevented him from securing the pole position for the sprint race at the F1 United States Grand Prix.

In the last segment of qualifying, the Mercedes team's drivers were among the first to attempt their single timed laps, with Hamilton recording a significantly quicker time than his teammate, George Russell.

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However, when Williams racer Franco Colapinto lost control and spun at Turn 12 right in front of Hamilton, the seven-time world champion was forced to reduce his speed due to the temporary yellow flags that were displayed. This resulted in him finishing in seventh place, as other competitors managed to

"Unfortunately, the yellow flag was just bad timing for me, and that's just how it goes. I was ahead by four-tenths," Hamilton remarked.

Russell secured the second position in the qualifying round, narrowly missing the top spot by a mere 0.12 seconds.

Despite the setback of missing out on the pole position, Hamilton found encouragement in the advancements Mercedes achieved with their latest upgrade package, which was introduced in Austin.

"He elaborated that the positive aspect is the team's progression with the vehicle, indicating that the enhancement has evidently been effective."

"I truly appreciate the immense effort put in by everyone at the plant throughout this challenging period. It's been a hard journey for all involved to ensure the upgrade functions properly. So, indeed, the journey isn't over yet. We have another opportunity ahead."

Hamilton commended the adjustments his Mercedes team implemented on his vehicle following a high-speed spin he experienced during the sole practice session.

"He highlighted the success in modifying the car, acknowledging the inherent risk involved since the outcome of such adjustments is uncertain."

"You anticipate they'll fulfill the purpose you have in mind, and the moment I stepped out of the car, it was a completely different experience."

Mercedes' trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, was equally persuaded that Hamilton was on track to secure the pole position.

"He emphasized that while there are several positive takeaways, there's a prevailing sense of mild frustration as the day concludes," he remarked. "Lewis was on track for a lap that would have comfortably secured the top spot."

"We decided to start earlier to prevent any disruptions from caution flags during a crowded track towards the session's close."

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