Lewis Hamilton regretted Ferrari’s decision not to give him a fresh set of Softs in qualifying for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix — a call that helped Charles Leclerc reach Q3.
His team-mate ended the session in eighth, a stark reality for the Prancing Horse, showcasing the max potential of the SF-25.
However, the Monegasque racing driver made it through to Q3, which the British driver could not emulate on the other side of the garage.
Earlier on, Hamilton executed an excellent strategy call in the wet-weather conditions to steal a third-place finish in the Sprint.
But hours later, he found himself needing a lap to make it out of Q2 after his initial attempt was not good enough.
Leclerc improved on a fresh set of Soft tyres to squeeze through, but Ferrari decided not to do the same for Hamilton, as he failed to make Q3 for the first time in his Ferrari career.
Replays showed a lock-up heading into Turn 17 cost Hamilton dearly on his final lap.
Afterwards, the seven-time World Champion admitted the pace was not there, but insisted a new set of Softs would have helped.
“[The] car is just different every time you go out,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
“I mean, we’re outqualified by the Williams, who are doing a great job — but pure pace, that’s where we are.
“Charles was fortunate to get through [Q2] with that, I think he had a new tyre, so he just got through.
“I had an extra new tyre, we should have used that.”
Hamilton: I’m trying everything, we’re trying everything
When asked if he felt himself and the team were making strides to improve the car, he added: “Yeah, I mean the sprint race was better.
“But yeah, as I said, we are where we are.
“We need some upgrades, we need some improvements.
“We’ve got lots of things that need to be better.”
Sprint races have been the only source of joy for Hamilton so far this campaign, a first win for the Scuderia in China and a top-three finish in Miami.
But in qualifying for the race, and on a Sunday, it all seems to go wrong for the Ferrari driver.
Put to him that the disappointing performances have been down to the car and not himself, Hamilton insisted he has been giving it his all in the last few races.
“Yeah, I mean I don’t feel it in my heart,” he added.
“As I said, I’m trying everything, we’re trying everything.
“The smallest bit of time today meant I was out.
“If we’d gone out with a new tyre, I probably would have been in Q3.
“And then it would just be 8th or 9th with Charles, so it doesn’t make a huge difference.
“But the fact is, we are trying and we don’t have the pace by far at the moment.”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton almost repeated Charles Leclerc crash before surprise Miami Sprint F1 podium
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