Hamilton Calls Maiden Ferrari Season a 'Nightmare'

Lewis Hamilton has described his debut Formula 1 season with Ferrari as a "nightmare" he's "been living for a while," especially after a disastrous Brazilian Grand Prix. While the season has seen a sprint race win in China and fleeting highs, it's been largely marred by lows and recent inconsistencies, culminating in a miserable weekend in Brazil that left him reeling.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the most anticipated transfers in recent F1 history, expected to inject new life into both his career and the Scuderia. His candid remarks highlight the immense pressure and frustration of underperforming, which could impact team morale and strategic planning for future seasons. For Ferrari, a struggling Hamilton means a missed opportunity to leverage a seven-time world champion's experience to turn their fortunes around.

The details:

• Brazilian GP Disaster: Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 and his race was ruined by a collision with Franco Colapinto's Alpine. The incident caused significant downforce loss, leading Ferrari to retire his car after he served a five-second penalty.
• Early Race Compromise: His race was already hampered by contact with Carlos Sainz's Williams on the opening lap's Turn 1.
• Emotional Toll: Hamilton expressed deep regret and frustration, stating, "It's a nightmare. I've been living it for a while." He emphasized the struggle between the "dream of driving for this amazing team and then the nightmare of the results."
• Penalty Justification: Stewards deemed Hamilton "wholly responsible" for the collision with Colapinto but reduced the penalty due to the low-speed differential and minimal immediate impact on the other car.
• Car Damage and Retirement: Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur confirmed Hamilton lost a significant amount of downforce (35-40 points), potentially from both incidents. The team opted to retire the car prematurely to protect the engine for the remaining 2025 races, rather than risk further damage while running at the back.

Between the lines:

Hamilton's choice of words—"nightmare" and "living it for a while"—indicates a sustained period of struggle and mental strain, not just an isolated bad weekend. His desire to "keep his head above the water and remain positive" for the team suggests he's acutely aware of his leadership role, even amid personal frustration. This struggle, despite his best efforts, underscores the deep-seated issues within the Ferrari package that even a driver of Hamilton's caliber is finding difficult to overcome. The retirement decision also reveals Ferrari's pragmatic approach to salvaging engine life, hinting at their focus beyond the current disappointing season.

What's next:

Hamilton remains optimistic, believing that "something positive in future" will emerge from the current hardships. He suggested that Ferrari might be "getting all our bad luck out of the way this year." He is committed to continuing his training and working closely with the team, aiming to come back strong in the upcoming races and try to recover. The focus will now shift to the remaining races of the 2025 season and critically, the development for 2026, where both Hamilton and Ferrari hope to turn this "nightmare" into a dream come true.