Hamilton Heartbroken After Shock Retirement from...

Hamilton Heartbroken After Shock Retirement from… “Onwards and…read more

Lewis Hamilton faced a devastating blow at the United States Grand Prix as he retired early from the race, dashing hopes of a late-season comeback. Charles Leclerc led Ferrari to a stunning one-two finish, taking first place, while his teammate Carlos Sainz clinched second. Max Verstappen, who crossed the line in third, increased his championship lead to 57 points over Lando Norris. Norris initially celebrated a podium finish, but a five-second penalty following a tense battle with Verstappen dropped him to fourth place.

Hamilton’s race ended dramatically on the second lap. After starting 17th on the grid, he made a rapid charge to 12th place. However, his strong start unraveled when he suddenly lost control, sending his car skidding into the gravel. The mishap was a heavy blow to the 39-year-old, who had a promising first half of the season with two wins but has struggled since the mid-season break. Since then, he’s managed only 27 points in five races, with the remaining races offering a slim chance to add to his record achievements with Mercedes. The British driver is set to join Ferrari next season, seeking a fresh start to pursue his elusive eighth world title.

In a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton expressed his disbelief at the sudden failure. He apologized to his team, explaining that the car’s behavior was entirely unexpected. “I mean, that’s never happened before; a first time for everything, I guess,” he said. “I wasn’t even really pushing, and then suddenly the car started bouncing.” Hamilton’s race engineer, Bono, pointed out a strong 40km/h tailwind, which, combined with the unexpected bouncing, caused the car to lose grip.

The setback echoed a similar issue faced by his teammate, George Russell, during practice on Mercedes’ updated car package. Russell reverted to an older package for the Grand Prix, avoiding the same fate. Hamilton expressed his disappointment, lamenting the lost opportunity, but acknowledged that the team would learn from the experience. “It’s so upsetting, and I’m so sorry to all the team back at the factory,” he said.

Despite the frustration, Hamilton remains optimistic. Reflecting on the handling problem, he said, “I was really caught by surprise by the bouncing, and obviously I’m devastated, but onwards and upwards.” The legendary driver now has his sights set on his future with Ferrari, eager to reignite his championship ambitions and return to the top of the podium next season.