Hamilton's balance issues cost podium chance

Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth in the United States Grand Prix, believes that recurring balance issues on his Ferrari SF-26 deprived him of a genuine podium chance in Austin. The seven-time world champion considers that his car had the potential necessary to compete with Max Verstappen and aim for the podium, but an understeering problem significantly hindered him for much of the race.

Ferrari's setup choices affected performance

Hamilton, who finished behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who took second place in Austin, believes that several choices made during the weekend compromised his chances. Between imperfect settings and a tire allocation that turned out to be disadvantageous, Hamilton identifies several areas in which Ferrari must improve.

Setup mismatch during free practice

Hamilton's difficulties began during the free practice sessions on Friday, when Ferrari adopted a setup that did not match the needs of the Brit. The Italian team then gradually adjusted its configuration to approach the one used by Charles Leclerc. Despite these adjustments, Hamilton started the Grand Prix with less support on the front wing than his teammate. A difference that translated into significant understeering, preventing the seven-time world champion from negotiating corners with the desired precision.

Ferrari made adjustments during pit stops

To correct this behavior, Ferrari increased the incidence of its front wing by four clicks during each of its two pit stops. But even after these modifications, Hamilton felt he still needed four additional clicks to achieve the ideal balance. The situation nevertheless improved during the final stint, during which the Brit regained a significantly more performant car. An evolution that convinces him that a better initial setup could have transformed his race.

Tire strategy impacted race outcome

Hamilton believes that the progress observed at the end of the race demonstrates the untapped potential of his Ferrari. With a better balanced car from the start, he considers that he could have remained in touch with his direct rivals and fought for a podium position. The Brit also thinks that these difficulties affected his performance in qualifying, limiting his possibilities even before the start of the Grand Prix. For him, the necessary improvements concern the entire weekend and not just the race management.

Used tires hurt start and race pace

Hamilton admits that a decision regarding his tire allocation placed him in an unfavorable situation. Before the weekend, Ferrari had estimated that the hard tires would not be particularly interesting for the race. Hamilton therefore chose to keep two sets of medium tires, a strategy that ultimately proved less relevant than expected. During the race, the hard tires proved to be particularly effective, so much so that according to Hamilton, they were the best compound available. In hindsight, the Brit considers that it would have been preferable to have two sets of hard tires rather than favoring the mediums.

Starting with used tires cost time

This decision also had a direct consequence on his start, as Hamilton found himself forced to start with used soft tires. An unfavorable situation compared to the drivers ahead of him, who all had new tires. Hamilton believes that the use of used soft tires cost him about two seconds over the course of the race compared to a new set. This difference also affected his possibilities during the start, even though the Brit succeeded in making an excellent start. The Ferrari driver was particularly close to taking the third position in the first corners. But the presence of Charles Leclerc on the outer trajectory prevented him from capitalizing on this opportunity.

Hamilton sees potential for improvement

Hamilton considers that these various elements leave him convinced that he could have achieved a better result in Austin. Despite his fourth place, the Brit mainly retains the technical lessons that could allow Ferrari to reach a new level. With Charles Leclerc on the second step of the podium, the Scuderia has shown that it has a car capable of competing at the front. It now remains to offer Hamilton a more suitable balance for his driving style to allow him to exploit this potential from qualifying and the first laps of the race.