Lewis Hamilton’s perspective following the Barcelona Grand Prix on the 4.657-kilometre Circuit de Catalunya mirrored a well-recognized sample, along with his temper exhibiting indicators of rising frustration and volatility. Regardless of occasional flashes of promise this season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has struggled to keep up constant type. His victory within the Dash race on the Chinese language Grand Prix and podium end on the Miami occasion supplied temporary optimism, however Hamilton’s efficiency within the conventional race format has typically fallen brief. One standout second was his spectacular climb from twelfth to fourth place at Imola, which raised hopes, however sustaining that momentum has confirmed tough.
On the Spanish GP, Lewis Hamilton secured a good sixth-place end given his difficult season to this point. Nonetheless, the race ended on a bitter notice when Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg overtook him within the closing laps. Though the Briton managed to outqualify his teammate Charles Leclerc for less than the second time in 2025, he struggled with race tempo on Sunday and was ordered by Ferrari to let Leclerc move early within the stint. Moreover, he was undercut by George Russell, additional complicating his race. After the race, the Briton expressed his dissatisfaction over crew radio, indicating that there was a critical problem with the automobile and describing it because the worst it had ever been.
In post-race interviews, Lewis Hamilton implied that Ferrari’s post-event evaluation won’t uncover any mechanical issues, and he accepted that he may bear some duty for the consequence. Nonetheless, as famous by motorsport journalist Josh Suttill from The Race, Lewis Hamilton’s radio feedback match right into a recurring sample the place the motive force suggests there could also be undiagnosed automobile points throughout his lowest factors. This tendency was additionally seen final 12 months throughout his time at Mercedes, the place after dropping qualifying battles to teammate George Russell, Hamilton claimed that the automobile was dropping efficiency for unexplained causes. That qualifying rivalry ended 19-5 in George Russell’s favor.
Lewis Hamilton continued this development on the Japanese Grand Prix when he stated he was dropping a couple of tenth of a second per lap to Charles Leclerc as a consequence of a “underperforming” part, although the precise problem was by no means clarified. When a driver’s complaints don’t align with the engineers’ telemetry and information, it will possibly result in pressure among the many mechanics who put together and optimize the automobile. If Lewis Hamilton’s considerations turn into with out basis, it’s comprehensible that the crew’s technical employees may really feel pissed off or upset by his remarks.
Josh Suttill highlighted that the British driver hinting at automobile issues throughout difficult races will not be uncommon. He recalled that in Lewis Hamilton’s hardest moments at Mercedes, there have been related claims about automobile deficiencies when in comparison with teammate George Russell. Earlier in 2025, at Suzuka, Lewis Hamilton made assertions about an unspecified drawback in his automobile in comparison with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. His grievance through the cool-down lap in Barcelona that “one thing is unsuitable with the automobile” continues this established narrative.
Including to the considerations, former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz not too long ago commented on the seven-time System 1 world champion’s struggles, attributing them largely to the variation course of that comes with becoming a member of a brand new crew. The Spaniard identified that whereas adaptation is difficult, most drivers—together with himself—have managed to regulate by this stage of the season. Given Lewis Hamilton’s intensive expertise and championship pedigree, it might be anticipated that he too would have overcome these early difficulties by now.
Inside Ferrari, there’s rising pessimism concerning the crew’s 2025 efficiency. Lewis Hamilton has reportedly advocated privately for the squad to prioritize growth and sources towards the 2026 regulation adjustments reasonably than anticipating main progress this 12 months. Ferrari has already tempered expectations relating to their upcoming rear suspension improve. Initially meant to resolve points with journey peak and allow the automobile to run nearer to the bottom to generate further “free” downforce, the Maranello crew now means that the improve might not ship a major enchancment in lap instances.
This evolving state of affairs leaves Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 season unsure, with ongoing challenges on and off the monitor, in addition to potential inside tensions arising from his candid feedback concerning the automobile’s efficiency.
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