Hamilton: I see the remaining races as tests

      At last year’s US Grand Prix Ferrari scored a one-two — Charles Leclerc finished first at the track in Austin, and eight and a half seconds later the checkered flag fell for Carlos Sainz, his then-team-mate. That was the Italian team’s last such achievement, and in 2025 they have clearly dropped off.

      Speaking to the press in Austin, Lewis Hamilton, on the one hand, spoke of some progress, and on the other admitted that he views the remaining six races as tests.

      Question: Last year Ferrari ran this race very well, and you have an excellent record at this track — you’ve won here five times. What are your expectations ahead of this weekend?

      Lewis Hamilton: When it comes to expectations, I never really have any, except for the mindset to give my maximum, of course, because together with the team we continue to pursue improvements. Every weekend gives us positive experience, and there are many areas where we can gain.

      After the last race we spent a lot of time analysing all that, and I think that during the weekend in Austin we will be able to take a step forward, to squeeze a little more out of our car. It hasn’t become more efficient, but the SF-25 has potential, and I think we can unlock it better. That is the goal in front of us.

      Question: There are six races and three sprints left until the end of the season: can you tell us about your approach to work? Perhaps you still have some questions for the team in the context of preparing for 2026 that you haven’t yet received answers to?

      Lewis Hamilton: Yes, I’m really looking forward to the remaining six races, and ultimately I see these stages of the season as tests — in the sense that we continue to learn and improve all our working processes.

      At previous races I’ve already said that during the weekends we made a couple of important discoveries but couldn’t take advantage of them. So it’s important now to deploy those findings and continue to implement everything that works and change what doesn’t have an effect.

      We are trying to progress, continuing to work on building relationships within the team and establishing more effective information exchange. Everyone who works at the Maranello base deserves a good result, and we are focused only on that — trying to get results, trying to score as many points as possible every weekend.

      And I really believe that we are capable of that; we just need to stay as collected and focused as possible.

      Question: Can you tell us about the final laps of the race in Singapore? How difficult was it to make it to the finish, and was there a possibility to avoid the penalty? Did you understand that you would receive it?

      Lewis Hamilton: Yes, the last laps were nerve-wracking, that’s for sure. In the past I’ve finished races on three tyres, and this time I finished in a car whose brakes were working on only three wheels. And that’s not an experience you want to repeat.

      I could have stopped the car, but the brake pedal simply collapsed to the floor, so I had no choice — I had to cut the corners, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to make them. The penalty is fine, because it didn’t really affect the result that much anyway.

      Question: You’ve been competing at this US Grand Prix from the very beginning, and I remember that in 2012 you, and the other drivers too, walked around downtown Austin and nobody paid attention to you. What do you think about the changes that have taken place in Formula 1 since then, how the city has changed, how the Circuit of the Americas has changed?

      Lewis Hamilton: I think we have witnessed an amazing growth in the popularity and interest of the American public in our sport. I believe COTA is one of the best circuits in the US; it’s one of my favourite tracks on the calendar.

      But it’s also great that we’ve been able to build ties with the whole sports community in Austin… I think when we first came here many were puzzled: “Formula 1? What is Formula 1?” But the progress is obvious, and it continues — thanks to the documentary series Drive to Survive on Netflix, and thanks to the film F1 The Movie that we released this year.

      It has become the most popular sports film of all time — and that’s wonderful. But it’s not only that: the Formula 1 race in Austin is watched by people of all ages. Every time we come here, the US Grand Prix draws a huge number of fans, and it’s one of the most beloved weekends of the year, because the city has a fantastic atmosphere, and the food here is great.

      So I’m very grateful to the people of Austin and to Bobby Epstein for their hospitality. The circuit is getting better every year too. Admittedly, the track here is still not completely smooth, but I believe that’s due to ground movement. Now there’s an entire amusement park here, so the US Grand Prix is turning into an incredibly interesting event.