Lewis Hamilton equaled his best result of the Formula 1 season at the US Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday as he finished fourth at the Circuit of the Americas. The seven-time world champion started from fifth on the grid but was overtaken by former mercedes teammates george russell To claim 12 points.
This result marks the fourth time that the 40-year-old has finished in the top four since joining ferrari Back in January. Yet his wait for a first podium finish with the prestigious Italian constructor continues, with victory in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix in March the only time he finished in the top three.
While Hamilton missed the podium in Austin, teammate Charles Leclerc finished third and was running second, but was overtaken later on. mclaren Of lando norrisLeclerc has now finished on the podium six times this season, including a second place finish at his home race of Monaco and third place five times.
ferrari Hamilton and Leclerc made good recoveries at the US Grand Prix after struggling in sprint qualifying, finishing eighth and tenth respectively. But after a crash on the first lap both McLarens had to retire, leaving them fourth and fifth. Leclerc then qualified in third place for the actual Grand Prix, while Hamilton started fifth before finishing fourth.
But while the weekend certainly went better than it started for both drivers, Hamilton is now contemplating the possibility of an unwanted career first. With five races remaining in the season, he risks the possibility of recording his least successful season in Formula 1.
The seven-time world champion has never recorded fewer than five podium finishes in a season, and can now only equal the worst return of his career after the US Grand Prix. Hamilton has claimed 105 wins and 202 podiums since his first season in F1 in 2007, but has struggled to finish in the top three in recent years.
After winning at least one race in each of his first 15 seasons in the sport, he went winless in both 2022 and 2023 before finishing first at last year’s British GP. He will also win the Belgian GP in July 2024 after Russell was disqualified due to the checkered flag, but a second-place finish in Las Vegas last November is his only podium finish since his most recent win.
After previous career-worst returns in both 2009 and 2013, Hamilton finished on the podium five times in 2024. In truth, the 40-year-old is unlikely to match that feat. max verstappenRecent revival in red Bull Since the summer break he looks to follow Norris and Oscar Piastri at the McLarens as he searches for a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
As a result, having already lost his impressive win record in every season in 2022, he now risks finishing the season without recording a podium finish for the first time in his career, or at least his lowest return of a top three finish.
The 2025 Formula 1 season continues in Mexico next weekend, before moving to Brazil, Las Vegas and Qatar in November and then concluding in Abu Dhabi on December 7.
