Source: Official Team Post via X
Hamilton Reflects on Setup Woes After Missing US GP Podium
Lewis Hamilton attributed a setup difference to his struggles at the United States Grand Prix, where teammate Charles Leclerc outpaced him. Despite a late adjustment, Hamilton finished fourth, pondering what might have been with Leclerc's setup from the start.
Lewis Hamilton found himself playing catch-up at the United States Grand Prix, as a subtle setup difference between his and Charles Leclerc's Ferraris left him trailing behind his teammate. Leclerc managed to secure second place, while Hamilton had to settle for fourth.
Starting the race from fourth and fifth on the grid at the Circuit of The Americas, Hamilton and Leclerc quickly moved up to third and fourth. However, by Lap 12, Hamilton was already finding the gap to Leclerc and race leader Kimi Antonelli widening. "I’m struggling to turn the car, particularly in low speed," he relayed to his race engineer, Carlo Santi, over the radio.
In an attempt to rectify the issue, Hamilton was one of the first to pit, switching to hard Pirellis. Yet, the pace of the frontrunners remained elusive, prompting him to ask Santi to examine Leclerc's setup. "Next stop we need to put in a lot more wing mate. I can’t turn the car," he urged.
Ferrari responded by adjusting Hamilton’s front wing, which improved his performance in the final stint. Despite this, Hamilton couldn't help but wonder what might have been had his car been set up like Leclerc's from the start. "Wrong setup really," he admitted post-race. "There’s a subtle difference between Charles and me and our cars in the race, and it’s mostly to do with flap, how much wing you put in."
Reflecting on the race, Hamilton lamented the time lost due to understeer and washout, which cost him valuable seconds and possibly a podium finish. "A sure podium would’ve been on the cards if I’d started with the front wing adjustment," he stated. "I think FP2 where we do the long run, that’s where Charles got the experience on that setup, and I didn’t get the long run on it."
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton saw positives in the team's overall performance, noting their strong pit stops and strategy. "I think lots of learnings," he said, optimistic about upcoming races. "If I can really get on top of this balance issue that I have, I think we can get much better results."
Ferrari introduced a suite of aerodynamic upgrades in Austin, including changes to the sidepods, floor edge board, diffuser, and underbody floor. Hamilton believes these updates show promise. "I feel like the team have been doing a really, really good job," he commented, highlighting his role in guiding the development for next year's car.
As the season progresses, Hamilton remains third in the Drivers’ Championship, just one point shy of George Russell, as they vie for second place behind Antonelli.