Lewis Hamilton explains Ferrari’s issues: "In Q1 I thought we could fight at the top"

Lewis Hamilton explains Ferrari’s issues: “In Q1 I thought we could fight at the top” | Singapore qualifying. Lewis Hamilton revealed the main issues affecting Ferrari’s SF-25 during Singapore qualifying.

From the optimism of Q1 to the anonymity of Q3, Ferrari struggled to find speed during the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying sessions. Both SF-25 cars seemed to disappear as the session progressed, leaving Lewis Hamilton to analyze the main problems of the Maranello team while also hinting at a possible path forward for improvements.While Lewis Hamilton himself appeared to be gradually finding a better rhythm and confidence in the car over the weekend, the same could not be said for the SF-25. The Ferrari remained fragile and unpredictable, struggling as rival teams were able to extract performance and achieve results, increasingly rare near Maranello. After a promising start to the weekend, the Scuderia lost momentum over the practice and qualifying sessions, ultimately finishing only sixth and seventh in Q3.

Hamilton held hope: “In Q1 I felt really strong”

“I’ve felt good in the car all weekend,” explained Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion has been slowly building a decent feeling with the SF-25, although the car’s limitations prevent any real breakthroughs. “On my first attempt in Q1, I felt really strong. I thought we could fight for the top positions,” added the British driver, reflecting the optimism that marked the early part of the session.

What are Ferrari’s problems? Lewis Hamilton provides his explanation

Then came the decline. Lewis Hamilton did not shy away from pointing out the main challenges of the SF-25: “The way the session program is structured, waiting times in the pit-lane, tyre temperatures, using a set of tyres for just one lap and then returning to the pits… All of these factors make it extremely difficult to optimize a session and extract the car’s full potential.”

The only way forward, according to Hamilton, is hard work and focused improvement. The British driver urged Ferrari to tackle these issues directly: “There are several things we need to work on to try and optimize our sessions. We’ll discuss all of these points with the team. We need to calmly analyze everything and then try to improve.”

Lewis Hamilton also stressed the importance of learning from competitors. “All the other teams are working in the best possible way, and we need to observe what they are doing as well,” he said. For the British driver, understanding rivals’ strategies and methods could help Ferrari find ways to regain competitiveness and gradually address the recurring limitations of the SF-25 on demanding circuits like Marina Bay.

Despite the challenges, Lewis Hamilton remains focused and determined to support Ferrari in finding solutions. While the SF-25 did not deliver in qualifying, the experience gained over the Singapore weekend provides valuable data and insights that could guide the team in improving balance, tyre management, and overall session execution in future races.