It was a weekend to forget for Scuderia Ferrari at the Brazilian Grand Prix, as both drivers were forced to retire. Following the chaotic start, Frédéric Vasseur revealed the reasoning behind the decision to pull Lewis Hamilton’s SF-25 out of the race early. The British driver found himself an innocent victim at the first corner, before colliding with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine on the main straight. The resulting damage was too severe, and after serving a penalty for the incident with the Argentine, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari was ultimately retired.
It had all started with optimism: Lewis Hamilton spoke warmly about Ferrari and its fans on the eve of the weekend, expressing faith in progress and unity. But by Sunday, disappointment once again prevailed. The seven-time world champion continues to struggle in his first season with Ferrari, as the adaptation process to both the SF-25 and the Maranello environment has yet to truly click. The current generation of ground-effect cars still appears ill-suited to Lewis Hamilton’s driving style, just as it was during his final years at Mercedes.
While there had been some signs of improvement after the summer break, Interlagos exposed a step backwards. Out in SQ2 on Friday, eliminated again in Q2 on Saturday, and forced to retire on Sunday, the Briton described the weekend as “a nightmare I can’t seem to wake up from.” Meanwhile, Ferrari President John Elkann issued a sharp public message directed at both his drivers, urging them to “talk less and drive better.”
Hamilton’s retirement: Ferrari reveals the real reasons behind the decision
From the first lap, Lewis Hamilton’s race was a battle against adversity. Contact at the start dropped him to the back of the field, and while attempting to recover positions before the Safety Car period, another misjudgment led to a second collision — this time with Franco Colapinto. The impact destroyed the front wing of Lewis Hamilton’s SF-25, forcing him into the pits for lengthy repairs. After assessing the extensive damage, Ferrari chose to retire the car rather than risk further mechanical failure.
“When you’re in last place and you’re missing 35 or 40 points of downforce, there’s no point continuing and risking damage to the engine as well,” explained Frédéric Vasseur after the race. “We decided to take the penalty and retire the car. We still don’t know whether the floor damage came from the contact with Carlos Sainz or from the front wing that went under the car — maybe both,” he added.
It was yet another frustrating weekend for Lewis Hamilton, who has been seeking consistency since joining Ferrari. Despite his commitment and effort, the results continue to elude him, while the SF-25 remains unpredictable and demanding. With the Maranello team already looking ahead to upcoming race in Las Vegas and the crucial end-of-season rounds, Ferrari will be hoping to turn the page quickly and rediscover the momentum that seemed to be building just a few weeks ago.
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