Hamilton touches wall during F1 show in Las Vegas: 'I was completely lost'

Lewis Hamilton literally and figuratively went wrong while treating American fans to a demonstration. The Mercedes driver touched the wall as the falling darkness and smoke from the donuts worsened visibility.

Hamilton lost in Las Vegas

Hamilton joined George Russell, Sergio Perez and Alexander Albon at the launch party for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which will be on the Formula 1 calendar from next year. The drivers treated the audience in attendance to some spectacular demonstrations.

With Hamilton, however, things went briefly wrong, as can be seen from minute 26 onwards in the broadcast on Formula 1's YouTube channel. With spectacular neon lights mounted under his Mercedes, he started his donuts, but the car was soon lost in the darkness and smoke. As a result, the driver himself also lost his way, even briefly touching the wall.

The moment triggered startled reactions from the audience, but Hamilton got away with the scare and was able to continue on his way. Once on the podium, he admits he lost his way for a moment. "I almost crashed," laughed the Mercedes driver. "There was so much smoke and I had no idea where I was. I was completely lost."