Lewis Hamilton explained how incorrect setup choices during Friday practice led to a lack of pace in the opening stints of the United States Grand Prix, costing him a podium finish. Starting from fifth on used soft tyres, Hamilton lost significant time to teammate Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, who were on new softs. The seven-time world champion attributed the deficit to wrong wing flap settings and a missed long-run session in FP2, which Leclerc completed.
Despite adjustments during pit stops, Hamilton remained under-winged for much of the race. He also faced challenges with tyre choice, opting for mediums over hards, and was further hampered by a late virtual safety car that halted his charge. Ultimately, the early loss of 0.277s per lap to Leclerc and 0.422s to Verstappen proved decisive.
Hamilton praised his team’s strategy and pit stops but emphasized the need to avoid repeating Friday’s setup mistakes.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing