Hamilton Explains Late Scare on Final Lap of US GP

Lewis Hamilton secured a solid fourth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix, but not without a significant scare on the final lap. He recounted a sudden, severe change in his Ferrari's handling characteristics that nearly cost him the position, attributing it to what felt like hitting something on track.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's improved performance at the US GP, culminating in a podium for Charles Leclerc and fourth for Hamilton, marks a crucial step in their battle for second in the Constructors' Championship. Hamilton's unexpected struggle on the final lap highlights the fine margins and unforeseen challenges teams face, even when a race seems settled.

The Details:

• Hamilton experienced a sudden loss of control on the final lap, specifically entering Turn 5, describing it as if he had "hit something."
• This immediately led to "massive understeer," making the car difficult to turn and brake effectively, particularly into Turn 11, where it "wouldn't stop."
• He initially feared a puncture or a broken front wing due to the drastic change in handling.
• Despite the issue, Hamilton managed to hold onto fourth place, finishing just over a second ahead of Oscar Piastri's McLaren, who was rapidly closing in.
• Ferrari had a challenging start to the weekend with reliability issues and poor Sprint qualifying but significantly improved their form, with Leclerc qualifying third and Hamilton fifth.
• Hamilton made an excellent start, overtaking George Russell's Mercedes on the opening lap and maintaining a strong pace throughout the race.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari's strong showing at the US GP is a significant boost in their fight for second in the Constructors' Standings. With Leclerc's podium and Hamilton's P4, they are now only 26 points behind Mercedes. This performance suggests a positive trend for the Scuderia, indicating they are making progress in understanding and optimizing their car, despite Red Bull being only seven points behind.

What's next:

Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the team's progress and intends to conduct a thorough analysis of the race data in the coming days. The team will aim to build on this momentum, working to "extract more from the car" and "get the car in a slightly better place" for the remainder of the season, as the battle for championship positions intensifies.