Ferrari’s big gamble on Lewis Hamilton backfires: Why the seven-time champion starts P18 in Qatar sprint

Ferrari’s big gamble on Lewis Hamilton backfires: Why the seven-time champion starts P18 in Qatar sprint. Lewis Hamilton struggled in the Qatar GP Sprint after Ferrari’s alternative setup didn’t pay off.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25, pit stop, tire, 2025 F1

Ferrari’s decision to try an alternative setup with Lewis Hamilton did not pay off during the Qatar GP Sprint qualifying. The seven-time world champion will start 18th in the afternoon Sprint, highlighting not only his struggles but also a team choice that proved ineffective. The setup on the two Ferrari cars was slightly different, and Lewis Hamilton ended up being the one affected the most.It’s important to note that the car cannot be changed before the Sprint, meaning any improvements must wait for the main qualifying session. However, Ferrari can still gather crucial race pace data during the 19-lap Sprint to refine their strategy for Saturday’s race.

Hamilton’s setup choice

Heading into Friday qualifying with only one practice session completed, Ferrari opted to run Lewis Hamilton with a higher-downforce rear wing. This setup differed from Charles Leclerc’s car, which, despite finishing ninth, still outperformed the #44.

The Losail circuit features many high-speed sections where aerodynamic efficiency is key. With only a few slow, high-downforce corners, the extra downforce on Lewis Hamilton’s car offered limited advantage on the fast stretches. In addition to the sweepers, several long straights without DRS meant top speed was critical.

Data shows that Ferrari ranks among the cars with the lowest top speeds on the grid. At the end of the main straight, Lewis Hamilton was the slowest driver in the field, losing significant time before even reaching Turn 1. The SF-25 also gains the least speed advantage under DRS compared to its rivals.

The final sector deficit

Telemetry analysis reveals that Lewis Hamilton struggled on nearly all straights, not just the main straight. Even drivers who just barely made it through SQ1, such as Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon, posted faster times. The Briton’s gains were largely confined to the slower corners, where the extra downforce helped, according to f1ingenerale.

Comparing his final SQ1 lap to Charles Leclerc, most of Lewis Hamilton’s deficit came in the third sector. While they were evenly matched entering the final high-speed curve sequence, Hamilton finished the lap over four-tenths behind. Part of the gap also came in the run from the last corner to the finish line, where his DRS remained closed.

Looking ahead

It’s likely Ferrari will make significant changes to both cars, particularly Lewis Hamilton’s, possibly reducing rear wing angle to increase straight-line speed. The SF-25 has never been ideally suited to Losail, and the Sprint qualifying result reflects an imperfect setup discovered after limited practice running. The team will need to make adjustments before the main qualifying to give Lewis Hamilton a better chance in the race.