Lewis Hamilton concluded a solid race at the 2025 United States Grand Prix in Austin, though he finished with some regret after narrowly missing out on a podium finish. Ferrari managed to salvage a weekend that initially looked challenging, recovering impressively from Friday through Saturday to ultimately secure a podium on Sunday. Charles Leclerc claimed the podium once again, while Hamilton narrowly missed out in fourth place.
Weekend ups and downs for Hamilton and Ferrari
The weekend for Ferrari, and consequently for the British driver, was a rollercoaster. Friday had been discouraging, but by Saturday in the Sprint race, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were able to climb to the edge of the podium, and qualifying further improved their prospects for the main race. Lewis Hamilton’s performance in the Grand Prix itself was relatively steady. After a poor start from his former teammate George Russell, Lewis Hamilton quickly moved into fourth place and maintained that position until the checkered flag.
Reflections on setup and performance
Lewis Hamilton admitted that the team took the wrong direction with the car setup after Free Practice 1. “After FP1, I think we went in the wrong direction with the setup,” he explained in post-race interviews. “I didn’t have the same pace I showed in the early sessions for the rest of the weekend. But overall, there are many positive aspects to build on today.”
On-track duel and strategy challenges
Despite a race that was not particularly thrilling, Hamilton had a short but intense duel with Charles Leclerc. He reflected on the strategy challenges that left him separated from the main group: “The strategy left me out longer than expected, and I found myself ten seconds behind the pack, so I had to push to the limit. But these are still excellent points for me. The podium is getting closer.” With this fourth-place finish, Hamilton extends the record for the driver who took the longest time to reach a podium with Ferrari.
Tyre concerns and late-race challenges
Lewis Hamilton’s race was further complicated by a suspected tyre issue in the closing laps, which explained Oscar Piastri closing rapidly on the British driver. “Entering turn 5, it felt like I hit something, and suddenly the car had enormous understeer,” he said. “I thought I had a puncture. Then, braking into turn 11, the car wasn’t slowing as it should. I thought maybe the front wing was damaged or something happened to the tyres. It was really on the edge, almost like Silverstone 2020.”
Looking ahead to the season finale
Overall, Lewis Hamilton was satisfied with his weekend, but he is already focused on the season’s remaining races. “There are still five races to go, and I think if we can maintain consistency and maybe get on the podium, we could finish the season with something tangible. The goal is to finish ahead of the Mercedes drivers and help the team secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship,” he concluded.
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