F1 fans turn on Lewis Hamilton for 'playing the victim' as US Grand Prix comments spark controversy

Hamilton had finished second in America, with only Max Verstappen superior on the day.

But he's now raged that other F1 cars breached the regulations, too.

"I heard from several sources that there were a lot of other cars that were illegal and they were not tested so they got away with it," he said.

"I have been racing here for 16 years and there have been many other scenarios like this where some people have got away with it, and some have been unlucky and been tested.

"There needs to be a better structure to make sure it is fair and even across the board."

F1 fans have taken issue with Hamilton's comments, however.

Users on X believe he's simply making excuses, with one supporter saying: "He's been tested the same time as max. Stop playing the victim."

A second said: "Nothing like deflecting attention from the fact he looked competitive, and for once able to challenge Max while driving a PROVEN illegal car.

"Sorry Lewis but we know."

A third mocked Hamilton by saying: "Lewis Hamilton: I got caught cheating, why didn't others, who I have no way of confirming were also cheating, get caught?

"He's just casting childish aspersions to deflect from his blatantly illegal set up in a vain attempt to look like he's still got any racing relevance."

Another said: Ofc Lewis can't say his team f***ed up but has to cry publicly."

A fifth fan said: "Waaaaaa waaaaaaa. Back to the old Hamilton again. Crying for attention."

A sixth opined: "Classic point the finger when your in the wrong behaviour."

And a seventh weighed in by saying: "This guy can´t take anything on the chin, he always points the finger at other people.

"Most unlikable F1 champ in the history for sure."

Some, however, believe Hamilton was right to complain after his controversial disqualification.

"He was not wrong when he said it taints the sport," stated a fan.

Another backed the Brit by saying: "A call for consistency and equal treatment for all teams from @fia."

And a third said: "Shock. I'm so glad he said that publicly. FIA can't hide."

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the US Grand Prix, meanwhile, Hamilton admitted he had been left crushed by the outcome.

"It is of course disappointing to be disqualified post-race," said the 38-year-old.

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"But that doesn't take away from the progress we've made this weekend."

He added: "It was tough racing those around me as they were so quick, but we can be happy with many things.

"I feel positive as we're moving forward, even if reflecting on it we could have possibly won today."

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff also addressed the decision, admitting they 'got it wrong'.

"Set-up choices on a sprint weekend are always a challenge with just one hour of free practice - and even more so at a bumpy circuit like COTA and running a new package," he explained.

"In the end, all of that doesn't matter; others got it right where we got it wrong and there's no wiggle room in the rules."