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Lewis Hamilton has detailed the set-up and strategy factors that cost him a podium finish at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin. The Ferrari driver secured fifth on the grid and advanced to fourth at the start despite running the opening stint on used soft tyres.
Friday Set-up Missteps Cost Valuable Race Time
During the opening stint, Hamilton lost 0.277 seconds per lap to team-mate Charles Leclerc and 0.422 seconds to Max Verstappen, both of whom were equipped with new soft tyres. The British driver noted that this lost time ultimately equaled the margin he needed to challenge Verstappen for third place.
According to the seven-time world champion, the early lack of pace stemmed from a suboptimal set-up developed after exploring incorrect directions during Friday free practice. Hamilton stated that FP1 and FP2 featured the wrong direction before the team reverted to a better configuration for FP3.
Hamilton explained that a subtle difference in front wing flap settings between his car and Leclerc’s left his vehicle under-hitting the target. He reported that the car felt good during the grid laps, but once the race began, it suffered from severe understeer and washout.
To counteract the balance issues, Hamilton added four clicks of front wing angle at his first pit stop and another four clicks at the next, remaining 12 clicks short overall. He noted that missing the long run on that set-up during FP2—where Leclerc gained valuable experience—put him on the back foot.
Tyre Strategy and Late Safety Car Complications
Hamilton’s recovery was further impacted by his tyre selection. Having opted for two sets of medium tyres because the team doubted the hard compound, he had to start on used softs while competitors used new sets.
A late virtual safety car deployed to clear Valtteri Bottas’ stopped Cadillac also halted Hamilton’s charge. At the time, his fresher tyres allowed him to catch Verstappen by nearly a second per lap.
When asked if the outcome might have differed without the VSC, Hamilton mentioned he likely would have engaged in a late-race battle with Verstappen. He added that while he was satisfied with his driving and overall pace in the final stint, he must eliminate the time lost during the opening two stints.
Leclerc Reflects on Podium and Victory Pursuit
Meanwhile, Leclerc secured Ferrari’s third consecutive podium finish, crossing the finish line 13 seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli. The Monegasque driver expressed enjoyment over battles with Lando Norris and Verstappen, and admitted he briefly considered victory when Antonelli attempted a one-stop strategy.
Ferrari currently sits on a nine-round winless streak. Leclerc acknowledged that predicting an upcoming win remains difficult due to fine margins and rival upgrade plans, though he feels increasingly comfortable with the car following recent set-up and driving adjustments.
Leclerc concluded that improved comfort with the car gives him confidence that the team will have an opportunity to secure a victory before the conclusion of the season.
