Lewis Hamilton’s weekend at the United States Grand Prix turned into a challenging experience as he spun out on just the third lap, adding to the woes of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. After a disappointing qualifying session where he was knocked out in Q1, Hamilton started from 17th on the grid. He opted for hard tires for his first stint and managed to climb to 12th place by the end of the first lap. However, his promising start quickly unraveled when he lost control of his rear end at Turn 19, a similar fate to that of teammate George Russell, who had crashed during qualifying.

Hamilton’s car became stranded in the gravel, forcing him to exit the race early. Climbing out of the cockpit, he expressed his disappointment over the radio, apologizing to his team for the loss of control. Commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft analyzed Hamilton’s incident, noting the lack of rear grip that led to his spin. Despite the cheers from fans as he exited the car, it was a disappointing conclusion to a tough weekend.

Mercedes had hoped for a stronger performance after the four-week break between races, especially with the team’s recent updates. However, it was Ferrari that shone on race day, highlighting the difficulties teams face in developing their cars. Hamilton’s teammate, Russell, had narrowly missed pole position during the sprint race but faced setbacks of his own, starting from the pit lane after a crash in Q3.

Hamilton, who had been optimistic about the car’s performance, reflected on the disheartening events of the weekend. After his early elimination in qualifying, he dismissed notions of a mental block, pointing out that he had been on track to qualify well until suspension issues arose during the formation lap. With performance in qualifying being a recurring struggle for Hamilton, this marked his second Q1 exit of the season.

Hamilton’s team principal, Toto Wolff, would have had valid concerns as the drivers struggled to find pace, especially following Hamilton’s suspension failure in the sprint race. Brundle suggested that Hamilton might have benefited from a fresh power unit starting from the pit lane, but such decisions are often difficult to make in the heat of competition. As Hamilton reflects on the missed opportunities, he and Mercedes must regroup and focus on the upcoming races to regain momentum in the championship battle.