Clarkson: Ferrari garage didn't believe Hamilton

Seven-time world champion Hamilton said he and his team viewed the final races of the 2025 season as an opportunity to learn and develop processes ahead of the 2026 regulations.

“I see the next six races as test weekends to refine our processes and continue to learn,” Hamilton said.

"We had some strengths that we didn't capitalize on in recent races. Now we're trying to maintain those strengths and change what didn't work. We're focusing on strengthening communication and ensuring our factory team's efforts are met with good results."

However, according to Clarkson, Hamilton's statement was not exactly the expected comment from Ferrari.

“Austin has always been a special track for Lewis Hamilton. He’s won there five times, he’s been very strong in the past. He came into the weekend believing he would be ahead of Charles Leclerc, but now he’s perhaps questioning how Leclerc managed to get past him again,” Clarkson said.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Former driver and commentator James Hinchcliffe, who joined the broadcast, stated that Hamilton could still draw positive conclusions from the weekend:

"Charles had an outstanding qualifying session, especially in the variable wind and temperature conditions. It was another strong weekend for Lewis, and he can see his garage is moving in the right direction."

Clarkson finally expressed her doubts about Hamilton's words:

"Lewis said on Thursday that 'we're treating the remaining races as tests,' but to be honest, I didn't fully believe that. Some people in the Ferrari garage might have been a little surprised by that statement. After all, we came here to race."