Lewis Hamilton had a weekend to forget in Austin after a race-ending spin into the gravel brought his day to an end on just the third lap.
The out-of-position Mercedes driver made the best of his P17 start after a disappointing qualifying session, improving by a whopping five places on the opening laps in his recently-upgraded W15.
However, his Lap 3 spin saw the Briton beach his car off the track and marked his first race retirement since the Australian Grand Prix back in March.
‘I’ve never spun in the race before’ – Hamilton brands his US GP ‘frustrating’ after rare spin ends race early
Heading into Turn 19, he lost control of the rear of the car and could do little to avoid the gravel trap before the Safety Car came out to neutralise the field and allow the Mercedes to be moved.
2024 United States Grand Prix: Hamilton spins out on Lap 3 to trigger Safety Car
“I had a great start,” Hamilton explained after the retirement. “Obviously shot up the inside and got up to 12th and at that point it was only the second lap, so I’m not flat out, not pushing particularly – just trying to manage the tyres.
“The car started bouncing on the way in and then it just lost all load of the rear and just went around on me.”
The accident closely resembled George Russell’s crash in qualifying at the Circuit of The Americas, but the 39-year-old successfully kept his car out of the barriers before his team mate progressed through the pack to cross the line in P6.
Hamilton explains what happened when he spun out on Lap 3
Asked about his rollercoaster of a weekend, Hamilton said: “I’ve never spun in the race before, not that I remember at least, and if I have it can only be once maybe before in all these years.
“Definitely frustrating but I do know that it wasn’t that I wasn’t focused or anything, it’s just unfortunate.”
Mercedes depart Austin with a haul of 15 points from the Sprint and Grand Prix – their lowest weekend total since the paddock raced in Zandvoort – and are now 152 points adrift of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings.
