Brazil GP: Ferrari suffers double retirement as Leclerc and Hamilton exit in Interlagos disaster

Brazil GP: Ferrari suffers double retirement as Leclerc and Hamilton exit in Interlagos disaster. Ferrari faces a nightmare at the 2025 Brazil GP.

Ferrari’s hopes for a strong result at the 2025 Brazil Grand Prix ended in disappointment as both SF-25 cars retired in dramatic fashion at Interlagos. The Italian team had shown signs of recovery after a challenging weekend, with Charles Leclerc securing third in qualifying following a major setup change. Lewis Hamilton, however, struggled with rear tyre performance and experienced a series of setbacks from the start of the race.

Early tyre strategies and initial collisions

At the formation lap, Ferrari’s drivers chose different tyre strategies: Charles Leclerc opted for Pirelli yellow-banded tyres while Hamilton relied on Softs for better initial grip. As the lights went out, Leclerc had a decent launch, keeping his position, whereas Hamilton was involved in a first-corner incident that saw him drop seven positions. His front wing was damaged following contact with Franco Colapinto, while Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash into the barriers triggered the first Safety Car of the race. Hamilton immediately returned to the pits to replace the nose and tyres, rejoining with a set of fresh Hards.

Despite returning to the track, Hamilton reported via radio significant instability at the rear, indicating the car was no longer performing optimally. By lap six, the stewards allowed the race to resume. At the first corner, Charles Leclerc moved right but was struck by Kimi Antonelli, breaking the suspension and sending the Ferrari’s front-left wheel flying. The Monegasque driver was forced to retire in a frustrating incident caused by a chain reaction that started with Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc expressed his anger over the radio at the unfair turn of events.

Hamilton’s struggle continues

Lewis Hamilton’s race was also plagued by misfortune. The British driver found himself at the back of the field after the first laps, exploiting the pit stops of Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon to climb to fifteenth, only to be overtaken immediately by Max Verstappen. The SF-25 remained difficult to manage, prompting Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami to call Lewis Hamilton in for another stop, fitting Medium tyres and adjusting the front wing angle to restore balance.

Upon returning to the track, the Briton continued to struggle. Despite the race being far from over, the situation suggested that retiring would have been the more sensible choice. The team instructed him to manage brake temperatures using lift-and-coast, while the car continued to slide and struggle for grip. Hamilton reported repeatedly via radio that he had no rear traction and could not push further. To make matters worse, he was handed a five-second penalty, which he criticized as an unfair decision by race control.

Final stages and double retirement

By lap 33, Hamilton made a third pit stop to fit Medium tyres, rejoining the race at the back with no realistic chance of scoring points. Ferrari finally decided to retire him on lap 37, acknowledging that continuing served no purpose. Combined with Charles Leclerc’s earlier retirement, the result confirmed a catastrophic weekend for the Scuderia.

Ferrari’s double retirement was caused by two separate collisions: Leclerc’s incident was entirely unavoidable, while Hamilton’s early contact sparked debate over decision-making and risk management. The events at Interlagos highlighted the harsh reality of Formula 1, where even strong teams can suffer unexpectedly due to racing incidents and strategic misfortune.