In a shocking turn of events under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Lewis Hamilton experienced what he described as a new career low in Formula 1. The British driver qualified in last place for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a first in his illustrious career based purely on pace.
A Nightmare Session Under the Vegas Lights
The qualifying session on Saturday, 22 November 2025, was plagued by treacherous wet conditions on the famous Vegas strip. The entire grid eventually switched to full-wet tyres, a rare sight in modern-day F1. Despite being renowned for his mastery in the rain, Hamilton struggled profoundly to generate heat in his tyres and optimise his Ferrari.
His difficulties were compounded on his final push lap in Q1, where he was hindered by yellow flags in the final sector. To add to his woes, he crossed the finish line one second after the chequered flag was shown, preventing him from setting another timed lap. He ended the session a staggering 2.3 seconds slower than his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who managed to qualify ninth.
A Deflated Hamilton Reacts
A visibly deflated Hamilton was lost for words when speaking to media after the session. "I don't really have words for it," he admitted. "It's obviously not good enough."
He detailed the technical issues that plagued his car, citing an inability to get temperature into the tyres, significant understeer, and a suspected glazed front brake. "I was really struggling to stop it in the corners," he explained. The result was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after a promising final practice session where he felt the car was "awesome."
"It's very annoying," Hamilton continued. "I thought it was going to be a great day and it turned out to be the worst. It can't get much worse than that."
The Latest Chapter in a Difficult Season
This qualifying disaster marks the latest setback in what Hamilton has previously labelled a "nightmare" debut season with Ferrari. The 40-year-old driver is yet to secure a podium finish with the Italian team and has now been out-qualified by Leclerc 17 times this year. He currently trails the Monegasque driver by 66 points in the championship standings.
The incident arrives just 11 days after Ferrari chairman John Elkann advised the seven-time world champion to "talk less and focus on his driving." When asked for his overriding feeling, Hamilton conceded, "It obviously feels horrible; it doesn't feel good." Despite the crushing result, he remains determined to fight back in the race, stating, "I just have to let it go and try and come back tomorrow."
With Lando Norris securing pole position, Hamilton faces a monumental challenge, starting from the very back of the grid in a season that continues to test his legendary resolve.
