Ferrari scare in the final laps: Lewis Hamilton reveals issue that almost ruined his Austin GP race

Ferrari scare in the final laps: Lewis Hamilton reveals issue that almost ruined his Austin GP race. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the Austin GP.

Lewis Hamilton finished the Austin Grand Prix in fourth place, despite revealing that he experienced a problem in the closing laps of the race. For many, this was yet another missed podium for the British driver this year, but in reality, it could have been a result that almost slipped away entirely. The Scuderia Ferrari driver explained that he encountered issues that put his final laps in serious jeopardy.The Stevenage-born driver led a largely smooth race, overtaking George Russell at the start to move into fourth position. From there, Lewis Hamilton maintained a steady pace, with no major moments except for a brief, intense duel with Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver ultimately prevailed, executing a strategy opposite to Hamilton’s, while the Englishman focused on managing his race and gradually distancing himself from his teammate.

It was only in the final laps that Hamilton faced a scare. Timing monitors showed that Oscar Piastri, who Lewis Hamilton had kept several seconds behind for most of the race, suddenly closed in on the rear of his SF-25.

In post-race interviews, Lewis Hamilton confirmed he had noticed something unusual. He said he wasn’t entirely sure what happened. Entering Turn 5, he felt as if he had hit something. Suddenly, he experienced severe understeer and feared a puncture. Even braking at Turn 11 didn’t stop the car immediately, prompting him to wonder what was happening.

“Somehow I managed to keep it on track through the last two or three long corners, but I had massive understeer. I thought maybe the front wing had broken or something had happened to the tire. It was really at the limit. Flashbacks from Silverstone 2020 came to mind,” Lewis Hamilton concluded.