Hamilton admits to Ferrari mistake that saw him get knocked out in Q2

11:47, 04 May

byOlly Darcy

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he and Ferrari made a mistake by putting on used tyres in Q2, saying he "probably would have been in Q3" had they put fresh tyres on the SF-25.

Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix was a roller-coaster of a day for the seven-time world champion, taking advantage of a good strategy call and the safety car to jump up to P3 in the sprint race earlier in the day.

However, the struggles for the Brit and the Scuderia continued, with a hugely disappointing qualifying session meaning he was knocked out of qualifying in P12, unable to make it into Q3.

Hamilton made use of the changing conditions in the sprint race, along with the safety car, to take a surprising P3, which he could not replicate in qualifying.

Despondent Hamilton knows Ferrari "haven't got the pace" despite mistake

It continues the struggles that Hamilton has been having behind the wheel of the SF-25 throughout the 2025 campaign so far, but in the Miami paddock, there was an admission from the Brit that he could have made it out of Q2.

"If we'd gone out with a new tyre, I probably would have been in Q3," Hamilton explained to several media sources, including GPblog.

"Then, it would just be... Maybe I'd be 8th or 9th with Charles. But it doesn't make a huge difference. But the fact is, we are trying, and we don't have the pace.

"I don't feel in my heart, and as I said, I'm trying everything, we're trying everything. This is like the smallest bit of time today, and then I was out," continued the 40-year-old.

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But it wasn't just the tyre choice that hampered Hamilton. Several lock-ups occurred in the same place, both in the sprint race and during qualifying.

"That's a brake issue. It’s different for every session I've had. It’s every time I go out. The brakes are very difficult.

"Pure pace, we're just… I mean, we're out-qualified by the Williams, who are doing a great job, James [Vowles] and his team are doing an amazing job. But, pure pace, that's what we are," concluded Hamilton.