Lewis Hamilton completed fourth in Sunday’s US Grand Prix in Austin, with the Ferrari driver now vulnerable to recording his lowest variety of podium finishes in a single season
Lewis Hamilton matched his finest efficiency of the Components 1 season at Sunday’s US Grand Prix staged in Austin, securing a fourth-place end on the Circuit of the Americas. The seven-time world champion started the race in fifth place, however managed to overhaul ex-Mercedes team-mate George Russell to bag 12 factors.
This end result marks the fourth event that the 40-year-old has completed within the high 4 since his transfer to Ferrari. Nevertheless, his quest for a maiden podium end with the legendary Italian crew continues, along with his victory within the dash race on the Chinese language Grand Prix in March being his solely high three end of any type to date.
Whereas Hamilton did not make it to the rostrum in Austin, his team-mate Charles Leclerc clinched third place, having been racing in second place, earlier than being surpassed late on by Mclaren’s Lando Norris. Leclerc has now achieved six podium finishes this time period – together with a second-place end throughout his house race of Monaco and 5 third-place finishes.
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Ferrari bounced again impressively on the US Grand Prix – after Hamilton and Leclerc had a tricky time in dash qualifying, ending up eighth and tenth respectively. However following a first-lap crash that compelled each Mclarens to retire, they completed in fourth and fifth.
Leclerc then certified in third for the precise Grand Prix, with Hamilton beginning in fifth earlier than in flip securing his fourth-place end. Nevertheless, regardless of a greater end to the weekend for each drivers, Hamilton now faces the prospect of an unwelcome profession first – as with solely 5 races left within the season, he is vulnerable to having his least profitable season in Components 1.
The seven-time world champion has by no means returned fewer than 5 podium finishes in a season, and might now solely match his career-worst report following the US Grand Prix. Hamilton boasts extra wins and podium finishes than some other drive within the historical past of the game, with 105 wins and 202 podiums since his debut season in F1 in 2007, however has discovered it difficult to interrupt into the highest three lately.
Regardless of profitable not less than one race in every of his first 15 seasons within the sport, he did not safe any victories in each 2022 and 2023 earlier than taking the highest spot in final yr’s British GP. He additionally clinched victory within the Belgian GP after Russell was disqualified post-race in July 2024, however a second-place end in Las Vegas – final November – stays his solely podium end since his most up-to-date win.
Hamilton managed to make it to the rostrum 5 instances in 2024, matching his earlier career-worst data in each 2009 and 2013. In actuality, the 40-year-old appears unlikely to match that quantity given Max Verstappen’s latest resurgence within the Crimson Bull because the summer season as he goals to chase down Norris and Oscar Piastri within the Mclarens in his quest for a fifth consecutive drivers championship.
Consequently, after shedding his exceptional report of wins every season in 2022, he now additionally faces the opportunity of ending a season with out even securing a podium end for the primary time in his profession, or not less than his smallest tally of high three finishes.
The 2025 Components 1 season carries on subsequent weekend in Mexico, earlier than heading to Brazil, Las Vega and Qatar in November, and eventually wrapping up in Abu Dhabi on 7 December.
