In the aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton is finding it tough to keep pace with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
- Hamilton had a promising start to the season but has since hit bumps, struggling with car performance and team dynamics.
- Despite outqualifying Leclerc for the second time this season, Hamilton’s race day turned disappointing as he dropped positions.
- Hamilton’s frustrations were evident as he battled with his car’s performance issues and strategic decisions from the team.
- David Coulthard believes there are still positives to draw from Hamilton’s performance, offering hope amidst the struggles.
The Spanish Grand Prix marked another challenging race for Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to find his groove at Ferrari. After a rocky start to the race, Hamilton’s hopes for a podium finish were dashed when Ferrari directed him to let teammate Charles Leclerc pass, allowing Leclerc to finish third while Hamilton slipped to sixth. Despite initial success in China, Hamilton hasn’t been able to maintain consistent performance, with car issues compounding his struggles.
Hamilton’s frustration with his car was clear as he communicated with race engineer Riccardo Adami. “There’s something wrong with this car, mate. It’s the worst it’s ever been,” he lamented. This sentiment echoed his post-race reflections, where he admitted that it simply wasn’t a great day, pointing to himself rather than the car for the poor result. Hamilton stated, “I just had a really bad day and I’ve got nothing to say. It was a difficult day.”
Former F1 driver David Coulthard described Hamilton’s situation as “a little bit punch drunk,” but he also pointed out that Hamilton managed to match Leclerc’s pace in the middle of the race. This glimpse of competitiveness suggests that not all is bleak for Hamilton at Ferrari. Coulthard remarked that team orders are part of racing strategy, especially when one car shows superior speed.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur later hinted at undisclosed car issues that affected Hamilton’s performance, though he refrained from providing details. Despite these challenges, Hamilton remains in sixth place in the Drivers’ Championship, but the gap with teammate Leclerc has widened to 23 points. Championship leader Oscar Piastri is now 115 points ahead.
The toll of the season showed as Hamilton reportedly appeared “just so down,” according to a remark shared with a reporter. This reveals the level of frustration and emotional challenge he is facing as he navigates this turbulent phase of his career at Ferrari.
As the season progresses, Hamilton and Ferrari must work together to overcome ongoing challenges and leverage any positives to climb the championship standings.
