F1 | Things get worse for Hamilton: another negative record in Qatar
Lewis Hamilton is facing one of the most challenging moments of his career during his debut season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion was once again eliminated in Q1, marking his second consecutive early exit after Las Vegas. A result that would have seemed impossible just months ago now confirms a worrying trend and makes this weekend one of the toughest in his debut season with the Scuderia. Lewis Hamilton’s 18th fastest time in qualifying—identical to his Friday Sprint session result—was promoted to 17th only due to a penalty given to Gabriel Bortoleto. Yet the reality remains: Lewis Hamilton is at the back of the grid, far from the positions he is accustomed to fighting for, adding another unwanted record to his statistics.
Another unwanted record for Lewis Hamilton
Today’s elimination places him in a club no Ferrari driver would want to join. Before Lewis Hamilton, only Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella had been eliminated in Q1 in two consecutive qualifying sessions with Ferrari. Now, that negative record reappears on the shoulders of the man expected to bring Ferrari back to the front. The SF-25 continues to show clear limitations in generating grip and consistency over a single lap, and despite adjustments made by the team during the day, the car remained far from competitive. The Briton showed slightly more confidence than on Friday, but the car simply didn’t allow him to produce enough pace to progress past the first cut.
Struggles for Lewis Hamilton and all of Ferrari
Emotionally, the British driver appears worn down by a difficult season, marked by inconsistent results and a Ferrari struggling to exploit its potential. The early qualifying exit was a tough blow, coming at a time of the year when Lewis Hamilton hoped to regain rhythm and continuity. The seven-time champion chose to keep a low profile, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and emphasizing the importance of fan support, who have accompanied him through a debut far more complicated than expected. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc managed to reach Q3, but even for him the session was far from perfect: a high-speed spin on his final attempt cost him the chance to improve, leaving him to settle for tenth place.
With just two races left in 2025, what was supposed to be the start of a glorious new era at Maranello is instead ending in one of the darkest periods in modern Ferrari history – and Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable career statistics now carry a stain that nobody at the team ever imagined possible.
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