Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari had the pace to fight for at least a podium, and potentially even the top two positions, before a brake problem brought his Spanish Grand Prix to an abrupt end after only seven laps. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion was running third when trouble began on the SF-26, turning what had looked like a promising afternoon in Madrid into his first retirement of the 2026 season.
It was a painful contrast with Lewis Hamilton’s previous race in Spain this year, when the Ferrari driver had won in Barcelona. This time, the problem appeared within the opening laps and became impossible to manage, forcing Ferrari to call the number 44 car back into the pit lane and retire it in the garage. The full sequence of the brake problem that ended Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish Grand Prix brought a sudden end to his race while he was still involved near the front.
Lewis Hamilton’s first retirement of 2026 comes after seven laps
The Spanish Grand Prix lasted just seven laps for Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver had been running in third position when the technical problem emerged, and there was a strong possibility that he would have remained in contention for a podium until the chequered flag had the SF-26 continued to operate normally.
While the race was still taking place, Lewis Hamilton spoke to Sky Sport F1 and made clear how disappointed he was by what appeared to be a major missed opportunity for Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari had the pace to fight for the podium
“I feel demoralised for everyone who works at Maranello and also for the people in the team who come to the track,” Lewis Hamilton told Sky Sport F1. “They all work incredibly hard and give everything they have. The car was great today, I felt I had the chance to fight and challenge those ahead of us at least for the podium, if not even for the top two positions.”
Lewis Hamilton then explained how early the problem had appeared and how quickly it ended his race. “But I was unlucky to have this brake problem very early in the race, when I was running near the front. Then I had to retire.”
The comments underline just how differently the afternoon might have unfolded for the Ferrari driver without the technical issue. Rather than struggling for performance, Lewis Hamilton felt the SF-26 was capable of competing with the cars ahead before the brake problem removed him from contention.
Lewis Hamilton turns his attention back to Ferrari
Despite the disappointment, Lewis Hamilton’s immediate thoughts were with the people working both at Maranello and at the circuit. The British driver emphasised the amount of work being put in by the team and expressed regret that Ferrari had been unable to convert its apparent race potential into a result.
“Now we have to focus on trying to make the most of this opportunity that still exists to fight for something important,” Lewis Hamilton concluded.
The retirement adds another difficult chapter to Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 campaign, with all of the latest developments available in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari coverage.
Championship ambitions increasingly difficult for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s final comment appears to point more towards individual race victories and major results than towards the World Championship itself. Ferrari’s championship ambitions now look increasingly unrealistic, making opportunities such as the one lost in Madrid especially significant when the SF-26 shows enough pace to challenge near the front.
The latest championship picture can be followed in the 2026 Formula 1 driver standings, but for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari the immediate priority will be recovering from a Spanish Grand Prix in which the performance potential appeared far more encouraging than the final outcome.
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