Hamilton blames Ferrari setup for missed US GP podium

Lewis Hamilton said a setup problem that left his Ferrari with heavy understeer through the first two stints cost him the chance to challenge for a podium at the United States Grand Prix, where he finished fourth, one second behind Max Verstappen. Hamilton said the car struggled to turn in slow corners, including Turns 1, 11, 13 and 15, and that he lost time while adjusting its settings. By the final stint, he said, the balance had improved, but the recovery came too late to close the gap to the leaders. Asked whether a late virtual safety car had denied him a chance to attack Verstappen, Hamilton said the race had largely been lost earlier. He described the VSC as not ideal, but identified the first two stints as the main setback. His account places the setup issue, rather than the late neutralization alone, at the center of his missed opportunity. Hamilton said Ferrari had added front-wing adjustment at both pit stops, but he still did not reach the balance he wanted. In a more detailed account of the changes, he said the team added four clicks at each stop and that the car remained four clicks short of his target afterward. He also said his Friday practice setup had gone in...