Set-up Struggles Cost Lewis Hamilton Podium at US Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed a podium finish at the United States Grand Prix, citing a critical set-up error that left him battling severe understeer for the majority of the race. Despite a strong recovery in the final stint, the seven-time champion couldn't close the gap to Max Verstappen before a late Virtual Safety Car neutralized his charge.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's struggle highlights the razor-thin margins of the 2026 season. For Ferrari, having one driver nail the set-up while the other struggles indicates a lack of technical consistency, which continues to hinder the Scuderia's ability to consistently challenge the dominance of Kimi Antonelli.

The Details:

• Set-up Deficit: Hamilton suffered from massive "washout," requiring a total of 12 clicks of front wing adjustment across two pitstops just to get the car to turn.
• Tyre Disadvantage: Starting on used soft tyres cost Hamilton approximately two seconds of race time compared to the leaders on new rubber.
• Pace Gap: The initial lack of pace resulted in a loss of 0.277s per lap to Charles Leclerc and 0.422s to Max Verstappen during the opening stint.
• The VSC Factor: A late Virtual Safety Car for Valtteri Bottas' Cadillac thwarted Hamilton's recovery; he had been catching Verstappen by nearly one second per lap in the closing stages.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari is currently enduring a nine-race winless streak. Although Charles Leclerc's third-place finish maintains their recent podium momentum, the 13-second gap to race winner Kimi Antonelli suggests Ferrari is still chasing the benchmark pace. While Leclerc feels he has "unlocked" a better driving style and set-up synergy, the team's overall performance remains inconsistent.

What's next:

Ferrari will focus on harmonizing their set-up process to ensure both drivers avoid the "wrong direction" during free practice. With the season winding down, the Scuderia is under pressure to convert these podiums into a victory, with Leclerc expressing confidence that a win is possible before the year ends.