Lewis Hamilton's 'test weekends' comments questioned: 'Ferrari might have been taken aback'

Tom Clarkson has argued that some in the Ferrari garage may have been "taken aback" by Lewis Hamilton's comments ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion said that the remaining races of the 2025 season are "test weekends" in order for the Maranello outfit to learn and improve its processes before the regulation change in 2026.

"Yeah. I’m really looking at the next six races as, ultimately, test weekends in terms of continuing to learn and improve on our processes," the British driver told the media in Austin at the press conference.

"As I said in the last races, there’s been a couple of gems through the weekend that we didn’t capitalise on. So it’s about taking those good bits and continuing to take what works and change what doesn’t. That’s what we’re trying to do moving forward - continuing to build on the relationships, continue to build on communication.

"Everyone back at the factory really deserves a good result, and that’s the sole focus—to get good results, try to maximise, squeeze absolutely every point we can out of our performances on the weekends. And I really believe we can do that. So we just stay focused."

Clarkson, who hosts the press conferences, claimed that Hamilton's comments could have caused some upset in the Ferrari garage.

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“I’ve always thought of Austin as being a Lewis Hamilton racetrack," Clarkson explained on the F1 Nation podcast. "He’s won here five times, he’s been imperious in the past. I think he arrived believing he had Charles Leclerc covered - and early in the weekend, that seemed to be the case. But perhaps now, he’s leaving wondering how Leclerc got the better of him again.”

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Driver and commentator James Hinchcliffe, who joined Clarkson on the podcast, added: “It’s tough to know, because objectively it was a strong weekend for him. He loves this track, and there are still plenty of positives to take.

"Charles did an exceptional job, especially in qualifying under tricky, changing conditions with wind and temperature fluctuations. I think Lewis can still be proud of the progress his side of the garage is making.”

Clarkson responded, claiming that he didn't quite believe Hamilton's comments.

“He referred to it on Thursday - the idea that the last five or six races are test sessions. I’m not sure I believed him, and I imagine the garage might have been taken aback by that comment. We’re here to go racing.”

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