Lewis Hamilton's dream move to Ferrari has transformed into what the seven-time champion describes as a 'living nightmare', with his struggles reaching a new low at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Brazilian Grand Prix Disaster
The Interlagos circuit, where Hamilton has often been celebrated by his adopted Brazilian fans, provided the backdrop for his latest disappointment. After qualifying outside the top ten for the Sprint race, the British driver managed to salvage only two points in Saturday's shorter format.
Sunday's main event proved even more disastrous. Hamilton suffered another Q2 exit in qualifying and his race lasted just one corner before he collided with Franco Colapinto's Alpine. The stewards deemed Hamilton 'wholly responsible' for the opening lap incident that ultimately led to his retirement on lap 40.
'This weekend has been disastrous and disappointing for everyone,' Hamilton admitted glumly, having already apologised to his Ferrari colleagues for his poor qualifying performance.
Ferrari's Steep Decline
The Brazilian Grand Prix represented another low point in what has been a challenging debut season at Maranello for the 40-year-old. While Hamilton secured an early victory in the Shanghai Sprint back in March, he hasn't stood on a Grand Prix podium all season - a stark contrast to his first winless season with Mercedes in 2022.
Ferrari's troubles extended beyond Hamilton's car, with Charles Leclerc also failing to finish after Kimi Antonelli was punted into his car by Oscar Piastri. The double retirement has serious consequences for the team's championship hopes, with Ferrari now slipping to fourth in the constructors' standings, behind both Mercedes and Red Bull.
Looking Towards an Uncertain Future
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Hamilton maintains a thread of optimism about what lies ahead. 'I am trying to keep my head above water and remain positive,' he stated. 'The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team, and then the nightmare of results that we've had, the ups and downs, it's challenging.'
With new cars and engines coming for the 2026 season, testing will begin unusually early in January. Hamilton will have turned 41 by then, and time is running out for his quest for an elusive eighth world championship.
'Maybe we are getting all our bad luck out of the way this year,' Hamilton speculated. 'Who knows? At this point, I have to believe there is something to come out of all these hardships that we have been going through. I'm sure we're destined for something positive in the future.'
Whether that future includes championship success with Ferrari remains one of Formula 1's most pressing questions as Hamilton endures what he openly describes as the most difficult period of his storied career.
