Hamilton to add another unwanted record amid difficult Ferrari season

For the first time in his career, the seven-time world champion will finish a season with fewer than five podiums — something that had never happened before, even in one of his worst years in Formula 1, 2009 with McLaren, when he managed to score five.

With only four races remaining, Hamilton is already unable to match the podium tally from his third year at McLaren, leaving fans to wonder whether he will even manage a single podium this season.

After 20 races, the former Mercedes driver has yet to finish a single event in the top three — with the exception of his sprint race win in China, a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.

In recent races, the Briton has raised his performance level, delivering results more in line with his teammate in both qualifying and race. However, it was still Charles Leclerc who reached the podium in Mexico, securing his and Ferrari’s seventh podium of the season.

In Mexico, Hamilton, while battling for a podium place in the early stages of the race with Max Verstappen in Sector 1, the Briton received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in Turns 4 and 5.

The stewards’ decision drew Hamilton’s disagreement, as he accused race control of “double standards,” pointing out that other drivers had also gone off track multiple times without facing penalties.

After the penalty, Hamilton dropped several positions, managing to fight his way back up the order but only as far as eighth place, just behind the two Mercedes.