Lewis Hamilton recorded a result that matched his worst finish as a Ferrari driver at the Lusail Grand Prix, crossing the line in 12th place at the end of another deeply frustrating weekend. The seven-time world champion has endured a miserable run of form as he approaches the conclusion of what has been a disastrous 2025 season. Throughout the year, Hamilton has repeatedly struggled to extract performance from the SF-25, and those issues became even more pronounced under the lights in Qatar.
The 40-year-old qualified only 18th and went on to finish 17th in the Sprint, unable to make any meaningful progress. His fortunes did not improve during qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix, as he was once again eliminated in Q1, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc advanced comfortably into Q3. During the race, Hamilton managed to fight his way up to 12th, but further gains proved impossible due to an early safety car and the inherent difficulty of overtaking at the Lusail International Circuit. Leclerc finished eighth, securing valuable points that ultimately confirmed Ferrari’s fourth-place position in the constructors’ championship.
Piero Ferrari gives Lewis Hamilton a firm “guarantee” as he expresses confidence in Ferrari’s future
The 2025 campaign has been one of the most punishing of Hamilton’s long career, with the British driver describing the season as his most challenging to date. In the aftermath of the Qatar Grand Prix, Piero Ferrari — the son of legendary founder Enzo Ferrari — offered reassurance to both drivers, stating that the team would recover from this difficult period, just as it has many times before. Speaking to RMC Motori, he indicated that after a race as painful as Qatar, there was little to add beyond acknowledging the blow it represented. He admitted that witnessing Ferrari in such a state was difficult but pointed out that one race remained before the team could finally draw a line under a disappointing season.
Piero Ferrari reflected on Ferrari’s long history, noting that the team had gone through numerous highs and lows. He suggested that while the current moment was far from comforting, Ferrari had faced even more severe crises in the past and had always managed to recover. He referenced the turnaround from 1973 to the 1975 world championship after a steady year in 1974, as well as the difficulties the team endured in the 1990s before returning to dominance. According to him, these cycles were part of racing, and he remained convinced that the Scuderia would rebound.
He emphasised that although several aspects of the current project were not functioning as intended, many others were working well within Maranello. He explained that the true challenge lay in bringing all these elements together to unlock the team’s full potential, expressing confidence that Ferrari would achieve this. Piero Ferrari reiterated his belief in the strengths already present within the organisation and stated that, as a supporter of the team, he hoped they could assemble all the missing pieces. He insisted that Ferrari would return to winning ways and that giving up was not an option, pointing to the excellence available at their disposal.
Lewis Hamilton repeats his call for change at Ferrari after another difficult weekend
Ferrari’s outlook ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi season finale and the forthcoming 2026 campaign is fraught with concern, and the atmosphere surrounding the team has become increasingly tense — especially in relation to Hamilton’s situation. Team insiders have expressed growing unease over the widening performance gap between Hamilton and Leclerc, with the Monegasque driver clearly having the upper hand throughout 2025. Leclerc’s seven podium finishes contrast sharply with Hamilton’s complete absence from the top three.
Lewis Hamilton has struggled to settle into his new environment since joining Ferrari, frequently criticising aspects of the team’s structure and decision-making processes. Following the Qatar Grand Prix, he issued another strong message to the Scuderia, once again urging them to implement deeper changes. Poor upgrade strategies and repeated strategic misjudgements have significantly hindered Ferrari’s progress in 2025, leaving them far behind the pace of the top three teams. Among fans, there is growing consensus that Hamilton is not the primary cause of the team’s difficulties this season. Instead, most observers view Ferrari’s operational shortcomings as the root of the seven-time champion’s ongoing struggles.
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