Lewis Hamilton has set an unwanted milestone in his debut season with Ferrari, becoming the driver to go the longest without a podium finish in the team’s Formula One history.

The seven-time world champion finished fourth at the United States Grand Prix, matching his result from Saturday’s sprint race, but the outcome extended his podium drought to 19 Grands Prix since joining the Italian team at the start of the season.

The record, previously held by lesser-known Ferrari drivers of earlier eras, now sits uncomfortably alongside Hamilton’s glittering career achievements.

His afternoon at the Circuit of the Americas was steady but unspectacular.

Starting fifth, he gained one position to cross the line just outside the top three, while teammate Charles Leclerc impressed with a determined drive to secure third place behind race winner Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Leclerc’s podium, his fifth of the season, only deepened the contrast between Ferrari’s two drivers.

Verstappen, meanwhile, completed a dominant weekend in Austin, winning both the sprint and the main race to tighten his pursuit of championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Lewis Hamilton has set an unwanted milestone in his debut season with Ferrari, becoming the driver to go the longest without a podium finish in the team’s Formula One history

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Norris limited the damage by finishing second, but Verstappen’s momentum has reopened a title fight that seemed to be slipping away.

For Hamilton, however, the day was one of improvement but frustration in equal measure.

The Briton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari had been heralded as one of the sport’s most dramatic transfers in decades. Many expected the partnership to reignite Ferrari’s championship ambitions and provide Hamilton with a fresh opportunity to challenge for an eighth world title.

Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the United States Grand Prix

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Instead, his first season in red has been marked by inconsistency, mechanical struggles and, increasingly, unwanted statistics.

Despite showing flashes of speed — most notably with victory in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix — Hamilton has found it difficult to extract sustained performance from Ferrari’s SF-25.

His tally of 142 points leaves him sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, 50 behind Leclerc and 204 adrift of leader Piastri.

The lack of podium finishes has inevitably prompted speculation about Hamilton’s future.

At 40, he remains one of the sport’s most decorated figures, but rumours have circulated that he could consider retirement or that Ferrari might explore alternatives should results not improve.

For now, both sides are expected to continue their partnership into next season, with team principal Frédéric Vasseur publicly backing the Briton to adapt fully to the car and the team’s systems.

Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix on Sunday

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Hamilton has remained philosophical about his struggles, often emphasising the importance of patience and long-term progress.

Reports have suggested that he remains committed to making his Ferrari move a success, motivated by the challenge of restoring the Scuderia to the top of Formula One.

Still, the numbers make uncomfortable reading.

Nineteen races without a Grand Prix podium marks a career low in a journey defined by relentless success.

For a driver accustomed to competing for championships rather than records of endurance, the statistic underscores both Ferrari’s ongoing difficulties and the adjustment period facing one of the sport’s greats.

As the season moves on to Mexico, Hamilton’s search for a breakthrough result continues.