Hulkenberg says access to Q3 'should have been straightforward'

A frustrated Nico Hulkenberg blamed an ill-timed lap and traffic in Q2 for failing to make F1's top-ten shootout in qualifying in Miami on Saturday.

Hulkenberg's disappointment contrasted with the joy of his teammate Kevin Magnussen who brilliantly showcased the pace of Haas' VF-23 by qualifying a remarkable P4, succeeding where the Hulk had failed after the latter's final lap in Q2 was compromised by traffic on yhe out lap.

The German rued the missed opportunity to put both Haas cars on the grid among the first half of the field, admitting there was "so much more in the car".

"Really frustrating and upset," he said after qualifying.

"My time in Q2 was on a used set from the first lap. We need to review what happened on the out-lap and how we got into that mess and situation with Fernando and Esteban.

"But I ended up losing out big time for that.

"I kind of had to stop the car in the final corner to get a gap to them. And as soon as you slow here, there is something with this tarmac when you go slow, the tyre picks up a lot of s*** and dust and then opening the lap I just found myself with not having the grip that I needed.

"I was a second down in the first sector and aborted the lap. So much more in it.

"Q3 should have been very straightforward, hence it is very frustrating."

• Read also: 'Well chuffed' Magnussen keeps P4 grid spot

Hulkenberg elaborated on what had gone wrong at the start of his final flyer in Q2.

"I was making a gap to Max and then Fernando and Esteban came with so much overspeed from the back," he explained.

"With these mirrors, they’re better, they’re bigger, but you still see the car so late and when they come and have a closing speed of 100kmh it’s not so much you can do anymore and obviously you can’t block them, like in a race, it would be a massive shunt. Very upset, very frustrating."

Hulkenberg will line up P12 on Sunday's grid and expects to undertake just one tyre change during the race – if normal circumstances prevail – as degradation appears "within reason".

"I think we expect a one-stop," he added. "Deg seems to be within reason, obviously still TBC because it’s not – short or long runs weren’t that long with the one-hour session, see how the new tarmac goes and how that behaves tomorrow.

The car has been happy here from lap one, it seems to fit well to this place, I like it too so that’s' at leasta very good positive for tomorrow, heading into the race with some pace."

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