Lewis Hamilton Sets New Unwanted Ferrari Record Despite F1 Milestone

Lewis Hamilton's recent performance at the United States Grand Prix means he will now set an unenviable Ferrari F1 record for the most race starts without a podium finish. This comes even as he achieved a significant career milestone by surpassing 5,000 points in Formula 1.

Why it matters:

This record highlights the immediate challenges Hamilton faces in his new chapter with Ferrari, a team desperate to return to championship-winning ways. While his overall points milestone showcases his incredible longevity and success, the lack of a podium with Ferrari underscores the competitive intensity of the current F1 grid and the work still needed for the Scuderia to consistently fight at the very front.

The Details:

• Unwanted Record: The Austin race marked Hamilton's 19th start for Ferrari without a podium. His best finish so far has been fourth place, achieved at Imola, Austria, Silverstone, and now Austin.
• Surpassing Pironi: This tally means Hamilton will now definitively break Didier Pironi's previous record of 19 Grand Prix starts before his first Ferrari podium. Pironi's first podium for the team came at the controversial 1982 San Marino GP.
• Next Opportunity: Hamilton's 20th race with Ferrari, in Mexico City, presents his next chance to secure a top-three finish, a feat he accomplished six times with Mercedes.
• 5,000 Point Milestone: Despite the podium drought, Hamilton became the first driver in F1 history to cross the 5,000 career points barrier, accumulating 5,004.50 points. The half-point score is a result of the truncated 2021 Belgian GP, where his 15 points for third place were halved due to the race's abandonment.

Between the lines:

While modern drivers tend to accumulate points faster due to more races and a more generous points system, Hamilton's overall tally remains phenomenal. If historical points systems were standardized, legends like Michael Schumacher (who scored 1,566 points under his era's system) would see their totals significantly increase. Recalculating Schumacher's points using the 2025 Grand Prix system would place him second behind Hamilton with 3,880 points, ahead of Max Verstappen's 3,229.50. This context reinforces Hamilton's statistical dominance over multiple eras of the sport.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Mexico City as Hamilton aims to finally secure his first podium with Ferrari. A strong result there would not only end his unwanted streak but also provide a crucial morale boost for both the driver and the team as they continue their development push.