Lewis Hamilton, British driver for Mercedes AMG, took part in the Formula 1 World Championship at the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, 2024. The Mercedes team was hoping that a new floor on the W15 car would improve its performance, but both George Russell and Hamilton faced disappointment during the Sprint Qualifying at the Miami International Circuit. Russell finished in 11th place in the session, while Hamilton brushed the wall and ended up in 12th place. The team’s struggles were evident when Team Principal Toto Wolff showed his frustration in the pit.
Despite the setbacks, Russell remained optimistic about the team’s prospects, while Hamilton seemed more disheartened. Russell mentioned that the soft tire felt good during practice and expressed confidence in making improvements for the main qualifying session. On the other hand, Hamilton believed that Mercedes was performing at the expected pace and acknowledged that they were 7 tenths behind the leading cars.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying, Russell expressed confidence in progressing and scoring points. Hamilton, however, had a more pessimistic view and considered it a tough challenge. He recognized the difficulty of overtaking and following other cars on the Miami circuit and did not expect a significant improvement starting from 12th place. Despite the challenges, both drivers acknowledged the upgrades brought by other teams and the need for Mercedes to address their qualifying issues.