Lewis Hamilton, the Formula 1 icon, is feeling the sting of disappointment. Racing for Ferrari in Italy, the land of the tifosi, he found himself unable to make it to Q3 during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. It’s a harsh reality for the seven-time World Champion, who is now acutely aware of the challenges ahead with his new team.
Hamilton, known for his remarkable performances on the track, admitted to feeling ‘devastated’ after the struggle to progress in qualifying. Despite being surrounded by passionate fans and racing for a team with such a storied history, the results didn’t align with the high expectations. Speaking after the qualifying session, Hamilton confessed, “The setup was just right, the brakes were working, and everything seemed in place, but we just couldn’t go quicker.” His words laid bare the pain of not being able to match the speed of rival Max Verstappen at key moments during the race weekend.
The frustration didn’t end with Hamilton. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, also faced the grim reality of their positions. Leclerc described their situation as being ‘P-nowhere,’ a telling indication of Ferrari’s current struggles. Over the team radio, his repeated exclamation, ‘my God,’ highlighted the disbelief and frustration at qualifying just outside the top ten.
Leclerc echoed Hamilton’s sentiments, stating that performing miracles with the SF-25 was an impossibility. He elaborated to Sky F1, “There’s not enough performance in the car… there’s just not the potential that we hope for inside this car.” Both drivers are striving to extract the best possible performance from their vehicles, but it’s clear the platform isn’t providing them the tools they need to excel.
Though undeterred in their determination, the drivers face an uphill battle. Qualifying 11th and 12th doesn’t sit well with them, especially considering Ferrari’s illustrious history and the expectations that come with donning the iconic red suit. Leclerc emphasized his commitment to fight hard during the race, but acknowledged the limitations by stating, “I can fight as much as I want. At the moment, I cannot do miracles.”
The Imola GP highlighted the challenging road ahead for Ferrari’s new lineup of drivers. With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both grappling with the limitations of the SF-25, their debut at Imola was far from the fairytale many fans hoped for. The team faces significant hurdles if they wish to compete with the leading pack this season. However, both drivers remain committed to pushing the boundaries, hoping that hard work and perseverance will eventually bring them the results they seek.
