Lewis Hamilton suffered a nightmare start to the United States Grand Prix, spinning out of the race into the gravel on the third lap, bringing out an early safety car.
The seven-time world champion started way back in the pack after a dismal qualifying session and got off to a great initial start, climbing up to 12th on the opening lap after capitalising on contact between Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon ahead.
Unfortunately for Hamilton, that success didn’t last long. On lap three, the legendary Brit lost the rear on corner entry at Turn 19, spinning into the gravel trap and beaching his W15.
Hamilton put his foot to the floor in an attempt to dislodge his car but this was to no avail. On the radio, he issued a simple apology to his team: “Sorry, guys.”
Lewis Hamilton note he was devastated!!!
This was the crescendo of a miserable weekend in Austin for the seven-time world champion. He was dumped out in Q1 in qualifying after limping home to a sixth-placed finish in Saturday’s sprint.
Speaking after a Saturday to forget, Hamilton said: “In the Sprint we had some sort of failure from the formation lap on the front suspension. I had that throughout the Sprint race. That made the balance really difficult.
“We changed a couple of things which pushed us in the direction in what we would have done yesterday. The car was a nightmare in qualifying. I should probably start in the pit lane, otherwise I won’t be going anywhere from where I am.”
The Mercedes driver has long enjoyed this event, and is a big fan favourite, but this was a few days he will want to forget in a hurry.
Hamilton suffered a suspension issue during the sprint and was only sixth, 19 seconds behind race-winner Max Verstappen in his Red Bull.
In the qualifying session that followed, and after qualifying in the top five in all 11 previous races at this track, Hamilton made an error at Turn 12 that resulted in him starting 17th on the grid.
Hamilton, though, enjoyed a superb opening lap as he made up five places and was running in 12th. But into Turn 19 on lap three, he spun on his hard tyres and beached his car in the gravel.
The incident sparked a short safety car period, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc leading ahead of Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari third, and McLaren’s Lando Norris fourth.
