Lewis Hamilton’s miserable weekend in Texas has come to an early end after he crashed out of the United States Grand Prix on the third lap.
The seven-time world champion was surprisingly unable to get out of Q1 on Saturday and started Sunday’s race in 17th position.
He quickly climbed up to 12th on the opening lap by taking advantage of cars colliding at the first corner.
However, his race was over just two laps later when he appeared to lose the rear going into Turn 19.
Lewis Hamilton crashed out of the United States Grand Prix
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Hamilton issued an apology to Mercedes on team radio after crashing out.
“Sorry guys,” he said.
But Martin Brundle felt Hamilton was a sitting duck in a car that just wasn’t working for him.
“Nothing he could do about that,” Brundle said.
“He’s just turned in normally and it simply hadn’t got enough rear grip.”
Hamilton now has just five races left as a Mercedes driver before he leaves to join Ferrari next year.
He currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, just 18 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell.
The 26-year-old also had a weekend to forget in Texas in what initially looked like it would be promising for Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025REUTERS
The Silver Arrows duo fancied their chances of battling for pole heading into Saturday, but Russell was unable to challenge with the likes of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Russell ended up crashing out of Q3 on Saturday and wrecked his car in the process and was given an older version of the W15 for the race.
Changing his car under parc ferme rules meant Russell was forced to start the race from the pit lane and ending any real hopes of a podium finish.
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Lewis Hamilton started from P17
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At the other end of the grid, Lando Norris managed to pip Max Verstappen to pole as a result of Russell’s crash bringing qualifying to an early halt.
But the McLaren driver was unable to hold onto his lead through the first corner of the opening lap with Charles Leclerc taking full advantage of a gap to take the lead ahead of Verstappen.
Norris trails Verstappen by 54 points heading into Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.