Hakim Danish Charges from P25 to P13 at COTA After Qualifying Crash

Malaysian rookie fights back from qualifying crash at Circuit of The Americas to secure a hard-earned points finish after starting from 25th on the grid.

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Hakim Danish Ramli delivered an impressive comeback ride at the United States Grand Prix, fighting his way from the back of the grid to finish 13th at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

The AEON Credit MT Helmets-MSi rider faced a major setback during qualifying after a crash prevented him from setting a competitive lap time. As a result, the Terengganu-born rider was forced to start from 25th position, putting him at a clear disadvantage heading into race day.

Strong start for Hakim Danish fuels midfield comeback

Despite the challenge, Hakim Danish wasted no time making progress once the race began. Displaying aggressive yet controlled riding, he gained multiple positions early on and quickly inserted himself into the midfield battle.

Within the first three laps alone, he had already overtaken seven riders, showcasing both confidence and racecraft. Maintaining consistent pace throughout the race, Hakim continued to climb the order while managing the physical demands following his qualifying crash.

Battling conditions and tyre management

The race was far from straightforward, as Hakim had to carefully manage his soft compound tyres on the demanding and technical COTA layout. The long lap and challenging corners added further pressure, especially as he pushed to gain positions.

Despite a late scare in the closing stages where he nearly crashed, Hakim kept his composure and brought the bike home safely in 13th position, earning three valuable championship points. After three rounds, he now sits 14th in the overall standings with nine points, marking a solid start to his campaign.

Hakim Danish: “I never gave up”

Reflecting on his performance, Hakim Danish acknowledged the difficulty of the weekend but remained positive about his progress:

“Overall, the USGP was a tough race for me. During qualifying, I crashed and couldn’t set a lap time, so I had to start from the back. In the race, I never gave up and managed to finish 13th. It was challenging because I had to overtake many riders, especially in the first three laps.

Everyone was pushing hard, so I had to find space in every lap and corner. Alhamdulillah, I was able to pass riders one by one. I struggled a bit with tyre management using the soft compound, especially on a long and technical track like COTA. I also had a moment in the final laps where I almost crashed, but I managed to control it.

I’ve learned a lot this week and will use it as a lesson, especially to improve in qualifying. I will keep working hard ahead of the next race in Jerez.”

Team praises determination and progress

SIC Racing Team management also highlighted Hakim’s resilience and growth throughout a challenging weekend:

“COTA is a very difficult and technical circuit, especially for a rookie. Hakim Danish needed time to adapt, and the crash was part of that learning process. However, we clearly saw his determination, starting from the back and fighting up to P13 to score points. After qualifying, we set a realistic target to finish in the points, and he achieved that.

It was not a perfect weekend, but it was a strong comeback. This experience will be important for his development and will help him become more competitive at new circuits.”

With valuable lessons learned and momentum gained, Hakim Danish now turns his focus to the next round in Jerez, aiming to build on his encouraging performance in Austin.