Lewis Hamilton’s struggles in the 2025 Formula 1 season continued as he suffered an early exit in Sprint Qualifying 1 at the Qatar Grand Prix in Lusail, leaving the seven-time world champion to start the race from 18th place. The disappointing result comes after a turbulent run of races for Hamilton since his promising start with Ferrari, underlining the ongoing challenges he faces in adapting to the new team and machinery.
After delivering a strong performance at the United States Grand Prix last month with a fourth-place finish, and achieving his best qualifying result as a Ferrari driver with third in Mexico, any optimism surrounding Hamilton’s early momentum has quickly dissipated. Following those highlights, Lewis Hamilton was hit with setbacks: an eighth-place finish in Mexico after a grid penalty, two Q2 eliminations during the Brazil Sprint weekend, and a race retirement. In Las Vegas, he qualified last but recovered to eighth during the race, showing glimpses of resilience despite repeated disappointments.
The Lusail Sprint Qualifying result extends this difficult streak. Hamilton’s elimination in SQ1 significantly reduces his chances of scoring points in the short event, leaving Ferrari fans concerned about the team’s performance in Qatar. His 1:22.043 lap was only marginally faster than the two Alpine drivers, who themselves have only accumulated 22 points collectively this season. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, qualified 13th in the same session, but the gap of over four-tenths of a second between the two Ferrari drivers highlighted the continuing disparity in pace.
The radio silence underlines Hamilton’s low morale
After completing his final attempt in SQ1, which left him precariously in 15th position before being confirmed in 18th, Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration, noting that the car “wouldn’t go any quicker.” While this comment was picked up on the F1 world broadcast, what wasn’t aired was his private exchange with Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami. Lewis Hamilton asked, in a tone of resigned disbelief, whether his SQ1 exit was confirmed, and Adami simply replied that he would start 18th. The brief but telling exchange reflected the low morale and frustration within the Ferrari garage, making it difficult for Hamilton fans to watch.
Minimal responses in post-session media
In his post-session media interview, Lewis Hamilton gave short, almost monosyllabic responses that reflected his ongoing struggles. When asked how difficult it had been to drive the Ferrari in Lusail, Hamilton indicated that it was “the same as always,” acknowledging the persistent lack of pace. When questioned about the higher-downforce rear wing he fitted for the session, Hamilton confirmed that it had made no noticeable difference. In a rare attempt to highlight something positive, Hamilton said only that “the weather’s nice,” underscoring the difficult mental and emotional state he is experiencing this season.
Perspectives from the F1 community
Commentators and former drivers have weighed in on Hamilton’s situation. Martin Brundle emphasized that Lewis Hamilton is still in a “privileged” position compared to many drivers, but he noted that any periods of optimism have been short-lived this year. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, who has expressed sympathy for Hamilton amid his challenging transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, pointed out that age may be a factor in Hamilton’s current struggles, noting that at 40, the former world champion may not regain the pace he once had.
Overall, Lewis Hamilton’s early exit from Qatar Sprint quali, combined with his terse radio exchanges and monosyllabic interview responses, paints a picture of a driver under pressure. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on how Hamilton can recover in the race itself and whether Ferrari can provide the necessary performance to help their seven-time world champion return to the top of the field.
