INJUSTICE: Historic Lewis Hamilton disqualification hanging over Ferrari Star… Read more
Historic Lewis Hamilton disqualification hanging over Ferrari star
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will head into the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas looking to turn around what has been a challenging spell both personally and professionally. Since joining Ferrari earlier this year, Hamilton has yet to secure a single podium finish, and with memories of his past misfortunes in Austin still fresh, the British legend will be hoping for redemption under the Texas sun.
Hamilton’s form at the famous Austin circuit has been a mixed bag over the years. Despite boasting an impressive record of five victories at the United States Grand Prix, his recent visits have been plagued by disappointment and frustration. Perhaps the most notable setback came at the 2023 United States Grand Prix, when Hamilton appeared poised to end his near two-year win drought.
That weekend, he delivered one of his finest performances of the season, chasing down Max Verstappen and finishing just over two seconds behind the Red Bull driver after a superb drive. However, jubilation quickly turned to despair when the FIA disqualified Hamilton’s Mercedes for excessive skid block wear, wiping away what would have been one of his strongest results of the year.
Ironically, Hamilton’s now Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc suffered the same fate that day, as his Ferrari also failed the same post-race inspection due to excessive plank wear. Both drivers’ disqualifications reshuffled the final race order and ultimately ended Hamilton’s hopes of catching Sergio Pérez for second in the Drivers’ Championship that season.
Unfortunately for Hamilton, his troubles at Austin did not end there.
Struggles in His Final Mercedes Season
At the 2024 United States Grand Prix, Hamilton endured another miserable outing, marking back-to-back non-scoring appearances at the American round. In what was his final race weekend in Austin as a Mercedes driver, the Brit started down in 17th place after a disappointing qualifying session. Despite a strong start — gaining five positions in the opening lap — his race ended prematurely.
On the second lap, Hamilton clipped the kerb in sector three and lost control of his car, spinning off into the gravel. The seven-time world champion’s Mercedes became beached, forcing an early retirement. Meanwhile, his teammate George Russell, who had started from the pit lane, managed to climb to sixth place — a strong result that widened the gap between the two drivers in their final season together.
Ferrari Proceed with Caution
Now, as Hamilton prepares for another crack at the Circuit of the Americas — this time in Ferrari red — the Scuderia are expected to be extra vigilant following their history of disqualifications at the venue. The team will likely pay close attention to ride height settings and skid block wear to avoid a repeat of the 2023 fiasco.
The concern is not unfounded. Earlier this season, Hamilton and Leclerc both faced disqualifications at the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton’s Ferrari was found to have excessive floor wear, while Leclerc’s car was underweight — another embarrassing double blow for the Maranello outfit.
These repeated infractions prompted Ferrari to adopt a more conservative technical setup in the races that followed China, increasing ride height to ensure full compliance with FIA regulations. While this approach has slightly compromised outright speed, it has provided much-needed stability and reliability in avoiding further penalties.
As the 2025 season heads into its final stretch, Ferrari remain locked in a battle with Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, while fending off a resurgent Red Bull team. With Hamilton still searching for his first podium in Ferrari colours, the stakes at Austin could not be higher.
The Brit will be eager to bury the ghosts of his previous American outings and remind the world of his pedigree. For both Hamilton and Ferrari, the United States Grand Prix represents not only a chance to end a frustrating run of results but also an opportunity to restore confidence heading into the closing rounds of the campaign.
For a team haunted by disqualifications and technical setbacks, and for a driver striving to reignite his legendary career, Austin 2025 could mark a pivotal turning point — one that both Hamilton and Ferrari desperately need.
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