Lewis Hamilton (P4 in the Sprint) now aims at a podium in the U.S GP. Photo: RacePictures.

Hamilton crosses his fingers and dreams big in COTA

21:23, 18 Oct

Updated: 21:32, 18 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Lewis Hamilton has been able to maintain his progression in the Ferrari SF-25, finishing the Sprint race in Austin in P4 ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc.

A shame I couldn't get close enough to get in the top three but I'm hoping for a better qualifying today, so fingers crossed

- Lewis Hamilton.

Whereas up until halfway through the season it had been Leclerc consistently having the hand up on Hamilton, since the Dutch Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion has closed up to Leclerc, managing to beat him more often than not, emphasising the driver's successful acclimatisation to his new car.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Sprint, he said: "The car was the same as it was in Sprint Qualifying. The pace was decent.

"It felt a little bit better in race trim. The delta wasn't as big to everyone around [us].

Lewis Hamilton beat Charles Leclerc in the Sprint in Austin. Photo: RacePictures.

The tussle that saw Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris involved and that resulted in the DNF's of the Aston Martin and both McLaren drivers, ruining the Sauber man's race in the process, Hamilton managed to avoid, but was unable to come out completely unscathed.

"I just managed to avoid the drama at Turn 1. I didn't really position my car that well.

"I saw Alonso on the inside, so went to the right and left the door open for Charles.

"The start was good. A shame I couldn't get close enough to get in the top three but I'm hoping for a better qualifying today, so fingers crossed," said the British driver.

Hamilton's unwanted Ferrari record

So far Hamilton stands at just one more race before becoming the driver with most outings for Ferrari without clinching a podium. However, given his P4 placement in the race, the Briton believes he can score a top 3 result in Austin.

Earlier in the week GPblog assessed the sotried history Hamilton and COTA shared which could just hold the necessary ingredients needed for the Briton to finally grab his first podium in red.

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