Lewis Hamilton explains unprecedented US Grand Prix DNF as Toto Wolff speaks his mind

Lewis Hamilton said he has "never" spun off the track before in the way he did just two laps into the .

The seven-time champion suffered a dreadful weekend at a venue which has been kind to him over the years. He had never qualified outside the top five at the Circuit of the Americas heading into this year's edition of the event, but that would change.

Seventh on the grid for the Sprint was followed by a dismal Q1 exit in qualifying for the main event, 19th out of the 20 drivers in that first part of the sessions. He began the race 17th on the grid, because of an engine penalty for and a pit lane start for team-mate .

But though made early progress, his race was over within minutes as, with no-one particularly close to his , he lost the rear end of the car and span off into the gravel, where it became beached.

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"I had a great start, obviously shot up the inside and got up to 12th," he said after trudging back to the paddock. "At that point, it was only the second lap, so I qm not flat out and not pushing particularly, just trying to manage the tyres.

"The car started bouncing on the way in and then it just lost all out of the rear and it just went around on me. I have never spun in the race before, not that I remember at least, and if I have it can only be once, maybe, before in all these years, so definitely frustrating but I do know that it is not that I was not focussed or anything, it was just unfortunate."

Blustery conditions at the Texas track had an impact, Mercedes said, as in their official post-race press release they reported measuring "a large gust of wind, up to 40kph, which likely didn't help".

And team principal was keen to absolve his driver of any blame for the incident. He said: "Today, an incident in that corner that came out of nowhere. He was not pushing. So where I sit at the moment, it is 100 percent not Lewis' fault. That is not to say that I am protecting him - it is clear.

"We are keen on (finishing on a high before Hamilton's Ferrari move), but how his mindset and how the relationships are in the team is as good as we ever had. First thing he said, he apologised for the incident. As I said before, I do not think it was his fault. Something caught him out.

"We want to celebrate it and finish it on a high and I am sure we will. Whether we can do it with great performance in the car, that would be fantastic. But if not, then we will give it our best shot. I think he will be looking at what they are and we think that red car is quick."