© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
After Lewis Hamilton got eliminated in Q2 at the Miami Grand Prix Qualifying, he told his team they “left it too late there”. Ted Kravitz explains the message.
Mercedes did not have an easy time in Miami Grand Prix Qualifying. George Russell managed to qualify in P6, but Lewis Hamilton got eliminated in Q2, and will be starting the race from P13.
Lewis then told his team over the radio that they “left it too late there”. He later explained Mercedes was too late to release him from the garage for his final Q2 run, which got him stuck in traffic.
In his post-qualifying analysis, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz gave his view of the situation.
“Mercedes haven’t been quick all weekend, or at least since FP1,” Kravitz said.
“George Russell complained of understeer. Hamilton lost two tenths on the final lap in his effort in Q2, and was out.
“[Hamilton said over the radio:] ‘Left it too late there, guys.’
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“What that was about – they left it too late getting him out of the garage in Q2. It meant that he found himself in a little bit of traffic, which meant he couldn’t prepare his tyres the way he wanted.
“That meant the lap was compromised from then on. You see? It all leads into the other. Everything has to be perfect.
“Hamilton felt that, if they had got him out of the garage quicker, he would have had the time he needed to prepare his tyres as he needed to. Then his lap time would have been better.
“Would it have been enough to gain two tenths? Can they compete with Ferrari and Aston Martin? Certainly not here.
“Maybe they can compete for the rest of the year,” the Briton concluded.
