Lewis Hamilton will line up at the very back of the grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, prompting former F1 driver David Coulthard to describe the Ferrari star’s qualifying effort as “embarrassing.” The British seven-time world champion is set to start a race with the entire field ahead of him for the first time since 2017, adding to the challenges he has faced during his debut season with Scuderia Ferrari.
During qualifying, there was clear confusion over Hamilton’s Ferrari team radio instructions as he exited Q1 for the second time this season. Reports suggest that Hamilton’s race engineer failed to inform him that an additional lap was required, reigniting concerns about the ongoing communication issues between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s pit wall throughout the 2025 campaign.
Coulthard criticizes Hamilton’s Las Vegas qualifying performance
Former F1 champion Jenson Button suggested that Lewis Hamilton may have lost focus in the critical final moments of Q1. With the start and finish lines positioned in different locations on the Las Vegas pit straight, it appears Hamilton was unclear on track positioning, contributing to his struggles.
In his post-session analysis with Channel 4, following Lando Norris securing pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, David Coulthard did not hold back in his critique of Lewis Hamilton. David Coulthard questioned how much more adversity the Ferrari driver could endure while highlighting the severity of starting 20th on the grid.
Coulthard compared Hamilton’s situation to a boxer absorbing repeated blows, suggesting that enduring setbacks has tested the Brit’s resilience. He described Hamilton’s performance as “embarrassing” while acknowledging that it did not fully reflect his true pace, especially given the yellow flag incidents during the session.
However, the former Formula 1 driver also noted Lewis Hamilton’s well-known ability to recover under pressure. He highlighted the seven-time world champion’s capacity to rebound from adversity as a key factor that could allow him to salvage points during Sunday’s Grand Prix, emphasizing, “What’s he brilliant at? Picking himself up, and coming back.”
Ferrari and Hamilton’s relationship under scrutiny
David Coulthard further addressed the broader context of Ferrari’s driver management following public criticism from Ferrari chairman John Elkann regarding his drivers’ media conduct. Hamilton’s visible frustration in Las Vegas demonstrates that he is taking John Elkann’s comments seriously, but David Coulthard believes the team must be “frank” with him about performance issues.
The former McLaren and Red Bull man pointed out that Ferrari’s recent success in the World Endurance Championship may have distracted some focus from the Formula 1 program, and that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are justified in highlighting technical shortcomings. He stressed that the SF-25 has not always performed as expected and that driver feedback should be taken seriously.
Discussing the dynamic between Ferrari’s two drivers, David Coulthard observed that Charles Leclerc’s experience as a Scuderia veteran provides perspective, while Lewis Hamilton is still adapting in his first year with the team. He noted that, despite claiming a Sprint race victory in China, Hamilton has yet to secure a full Formula 1 Grand Prix win for Ferrari in 2025, making his current frustrations understandable.
Ultimately, David Coulthard suggested that open communication and honesty from both the Ferrari management and drivers could foster a positive relationship, even amid setbacks. He concluded that constructive criticism, such as Lewis Hamilton’s comments, can be beneficial for the team’s long-term performance and development as they aim for victories in the final races of the season.
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