Lewis Hamilton blames Ferrari setup for lost points

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari's car setup has cost him valuable points and podium finishes in recent Formula 1 races. Following the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the seven-time world champion admitted that he had struggled to find the right balance in his SF-26, while teammate Charles Leclerc delivered a stronger performance.

Leclerc finished second behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, while Hamilton crossed the line in fourth. The Briton struggled with understeer through several slow-speed corners during the opening two stints, losing time to his rivals as he attempted to adjust the car's balance.

Hamilton acknowledged that the problem had affected him over several recent races. He explained that he had lost a significant number of points over approximately five rounds because the setup had not been ideal. Although he felt comfortable with his driving, he was unable to extract the car's full potential until the third stint in Austin, by which point the gap had become difficult to overcome.

Despite the setback, Hamilton praised Ferrari's latest upgrades and remained optimistic about the team's prospects at the Mexican Grand Prix. Leclerc also highlighted an area for improvement, explaining that difficulties warming up his tyres during Q3 had cost him a better starting position. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur believed Ferrari had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and suggested that, without the virtual safety car, the team could have secured a double podium.