Hamilton 'lucky to make it round' after brake failure forces Spanish GP retirement

Lewis Hamilton said he was 'lucky to make it round' after a brake failure forced him to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring. The Ferrari driver had been battling Max Verstappen for third when the brake pedal failed during the opening laps.

Why it matters:

The retirement is another setback for Ferrari, who have shown strong pace but have been hampered by reliability issues. It also highlights the unforgiving nature of Madrid's wall-lined circuit, where even minor problems can end a race.

The details:

• Hamilton reported the brake pedal taking a 'step' at Turn 5 on the first lap, then recovering before going 'fully to the end' a few corners later.
• He brushed the wall after missing a braking point, but managed to return to the pits without further incident.
• Ferrari tried adjusting settings from the pit wall, but the problem recurred, forcing the team to retire the car.
• Team principal Fred Vasseur explained: 'Staying on track made no sense in a crazy race. We didn't want to take any risk.'
• Vasseur believed Hamilton had the pace to fight at the front, but overtaking was so difficult that track position was crucial.

What's next:

With teammate Charles Leclerc showing competitive pace, Ferrari can take positives from the weekend. However, resolving these reliability gremlins is essential to convert speed into consistent results. The next races will be telling.