Mercedes faced a challenging qualifying session at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, leaving the team principal Toto Wolff frustrated. Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz revealed that Wolff turned down an interview after the session, as Mercedes had a disappointing performance overall. Lewis Hamilton qualified in 19th, which would improve to 18th due to grid penalties for Liam Lawson, while George Russell managed sixth but crashed out late in Q3. Mercedes had high hopes with their final upgrade package of the 2024 season but couldn’t capitalize on it in qualifying.
Hamilton’s poor qualifying marked his first time starting from the back row since 2017. He made a costly mistake at Turn 12, losing half a second, and failed to progress beyond Q1. Kravitz noted that Hamilton was visibly unhappy with the car’s performance, questioning what had gone wrong with it. The disappointment was amplified as both Mercedes drivers struggled during Q1, with Hamilton significantly off the pace compared to Russell.
Russell, who advanced to Q3, echoed Hamilton’s concerns, uncertain about what had changed with the car since earlier in the weekend. Despite his sixth-place grid spot, Russell’s session ended on a sour note with a crash at Turn 19, leaving the team with a damaged car to repair before the race. The crash further compounded the disappointment for Mercedes, who had hoped for a strong performance after promising signs in the earlier Sprint race.
Toto Wolff, often seen giving interviews after qualifying, opted out this time, highlighting his frustration with the team’s performance. Kravitz mentioned that Wolff seemed more upset than usual, likely due to the missed opportunity and the pressure of a major race weekend. Wolff’s mood reflected the broader disappointment within Mercedes, as the team had aimed for better results in what was supposed to be a turning point for their season.
Mercedes had a tough qualifying session in Austin, with both drivers struggling to meet expectations. Hamilton’s lowly starting position and Russell’s crash left the team scrambling, and Wolff’s uncharacteristic decision to decline media interviews highlighted the level of frustration. Mercedes now faces the challenge of regrouping for the race, with significant work needed to turn their fortunes around.
