LEWIS HAMILTON’S preparation for the United States Grand Prix started with a hiccup after he was locked in his Mercedes room.

The seven-time world champion was conspicuous by his absence for the start of his mandatory FIA media session to preview Sunday’s race, with an empty chair alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton then arrived five minutes after the written media session started, promptly apologising for his delayed arrival.

“Sorry I am late,” the 36-year-old said. “I got locked in my room and I couldn’t get out. No joke.”

The Briton will hope the peculiar episode – one his Mercedes team blamed on a faulty lock – is not a bad omen as he embarks on another critical weekend in his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth world championship.

Hamilton is six points adrift of his Red Bull rival Max Verstappen with six of 22 races left, but Austin’s Circuit of Americas evokes powerful memories for the British driver.

He secured his second and sixth championships here in 2015 and in 2019, and has won in five of his eight appearances.

And with this season’s see-saw championship battle so finely poised, Hamilton will know the importance of securing a full quota of points at a venue that has been kind to both him and Mercedes in the past.

“It is a place of great, great memories, and a great track for wheel-to-wheel racing,” added Hamilton.

“It is going to be very tight and close between us all. It is important to win every race somehow and maximise our points.

“It will be incredibly difficult and there will be moments where we can edge out Red Bull.

“A lot can happen in these six races so I am going to take one race at a time and give it everything I have got.”