Lewis Hamilton has experienced a challenging first year at Ferrari. Let’s see how this season has gone for him so far.
The seven-time world champion had a particularly disappointing race at the São Paulo Grand Prix, marked by incidents and another early retirement. Lewis Hamilton thus described his first year at Ferrari as a “nightmare.” Here’s a look back at a season where the Italian dream turned into a constant struggle.
Hamilton and his frustrating first year at Ferrari
The British driver suffered a string of misfortunes right from the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In the first corner, he was hit by Carlos Sainz’s Williams. He then misjudged an overtaking attempt on Franco Colapinto (Alpine) early in the second lap.
These incidents damaged the front wing and the floor of his Ferrari, which forced a pit stop to replace the front wing. He had to continue the race with a performance deficit. But Hamilton’s troubles in his first year at Ferrari did not stop there.
A penalty and an early retirement
For the incident with Colapinto, Hamilton received a five-second penalty. Despite his efforts, he had to retire on lap 39, then finished in last place. This extended his streak of races without a podium, leaving him sixth in the drivers’ standings, far behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Technical and strategic difficulties
Hamilton has generally lacked raw pace compared to Leclerc. The Monegasque managed to qualify third in São Paulo despite an incident beyond his control. Hamilton, in his first year at Ferrari, acknowledges that the car has potential but emphasizes that technical issues and race variables made adaptation difficult.
The Brazilian Grand Prix was particularly harsh for the Scuderia, with both drivers retiring. Leclerc was indirectly involved in a collision between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli. And that damaged his left front suspension.
Ferrari is now fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, 36 points behind Mercedes, and could finish the season without a victory. That especially applies if neither driver wins any of the last three Grands Prix. The pressure is therefore high for Leclerc and Hamilton, who is still adjusting in his first year with the team.
The champion remains optimistic despite the challenges
Despite this difficult debut season, Hamilton remains confident about the future. “I believe there is something extraordinary waiting for me, in my life and my destiny,” he said. He stressed the importance of continuing to work with the team, improving, and learning from these difficulties to come back stronger next season.
Hamilton, motivated even after his first year at Ferrari
The champion insists on his commitment to Ferrari and the quality of work the team delivers at every race. “Every person in this team gives their best every week. Not finishing a race for the second time this year is devastating, but we will keep fighting,” he added, determined to turn setbacks into lessons.