Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Hamilton says Ferrari set-up problems cost him a US Grand Prix podium
Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the US Grand Prix in Austin, missing the final podium place by one second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Hamilton said a set-up mistake caused heavy understeer in his Ferrari, making it difficult to turn the car, especially in slow corners.
He said he lost most of his time in the first two stints, before the car’s balance improved later in the race.
Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished second, showing the team had strong pace at the track.
Hamilton is now one point behind George Russell in the fight for second place in the drivers’ championship.
Hamilton said set-up problems have cost him points in recent races and that he needs to address them.
He hopes to improve the set-up in Mexico, the next race mentioned.
Lewis Hamilton said a set-up problem caused heavy understeer and cost him a chance to reach the podium at the United States Grand Prix.
He finished fourth at Circuit of the Americas, one second behind Max Verstappen, who took the final podium place.
Hamilton said he lost time in the first two stints because he struggled to turn the car in low-speed corners.
His balance improved in the final stint, but he said Ferrari should have started the race with that set-up.
Hamilton said recent set-up problems had cost him points and that he needed to address them.
- Who
- Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari.
- What
- He said a set-up mistake caused heavy understeer and cost him a chance at a podium. He finished fourth.
- When
- At the United States Grand Prix; the race date is not stated.
- Where
- Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
- Why
- Hamilton said the car had heavy understeer, particularly in low-speed corners, during the first two stints.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hamilton said he lost time because heavy understeer made it difficult to turn the car in low-speed corners.
Hamilton said the car’s balance improved and that he felt good.
Hamilton finished fourth, one second behind Max Verstappen in the battle for the final podium place.
- Finish
- Fourth place
- Podium gap
- One second behind Max Verstappen
- Team-mate result
- Charles Leclerc finished second
- Problem reported
- Heavy understeer, especially in low-speed corners
- Championship position
- Hamilton moved to within one point of George Russell in the fight for second place in the drivers’ championship
3 sources
What people are saying
I couldn’t turn the car, in low-speed particularly.
So Turn 1, 11, 13, 15, just massive understeer.
I’ve lost a lot of points in the last five races and I think it’s really come from set-up.