Hamilton Recalls 2020 Silverstone Scare During U.S. GP Last Lap Issue

Lewis Hamilton reported yet another last-lap issue with his SF-25 Ferrari, bringing back memories of a similar predicament from the 2020 British Grand Prix. This follows recurring brake problems that have plagued his recent races, notably impacting his potential P5 finish in Singapore.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing struggles with his Ferrari, particularly late in races, highlight the challenges he faces in consistently extracting peak performance from the car. These issues not only cost him valuable points but also raise questions about the car's reliability and its impact on his championship aspirations, a critical factor as he navigates his first season with the Scuderia.

The details:

• During the United States Grand Prix, Hamilton experienced a significant scare on the final lap, describing it as a flashback to the 2020 British Grand Prix where he famously finished on three wheels.
• “I went into Turn 5 and it felt like I hit something and all of a sudden I had massive understeer, and I thought that I had a puncture,” Hamilton told GPblog.
• He further elaborated on braking into Turn 11: “the thing wouldn't stop and I was like ‘jeez what's going on?’ But somehow I managed to hold it on in the last couple of few corners.”
• Hamilton noted he had “huge understeer in the last [sector], like I thought the front wing was broken or that something happened with the tyre it was off so close to [Oscar] Piastri in front of us.”
• These issues come after severely deteriorated brake problems in Singapore ultimately unraveled his potential P5 result.

The big picture:

Despite these recurring issues, Hamilton continues to demonstrate his capacity for consistent progression. Since the summer break, he appears to have turned a corner in his adaptation process at Ferrari, showing glimpses of the pace that could challenge the frontrunners. However, the reliability concerns with the SF-25 remain a significant hurdle, preventing him from consistently converting strong performances into podium finishes. Hamilton now holds the unenviable Ferrari record for most races without scoring a podium, underscoring the team's ongoing challenges.

What's next:

Ferrari and Hamilton will need to address these late-race reliability and handling issues if they are to capitalize on the Briton’s improving pace. Resolving these mechanical woes will be crucial for Hamilton to break his podium drought and for the Scuderia to establish itself as a consistent contender. The team’s focus will undoubtedly be on understanding and mitigating these critical failures to ensure both car and driver can perform optimally through the entirety of a Grand Prix.