Lewis Hamilton crashes out at Dutch Grand Prix, missing Ferrari’s first podium of the season
Lewis Hamilton saw what could have been Ferrari’s first podium of the 2025 season slip away after crashing out at the Dutch Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion struggled as his tyres began to degrade during the opening stint, costing him vital grip at a crucial stage of the race.
In a seemingly minor but costly incident, Hamilton lost control on the outside line of the banked Turn 3 and wedged his front tyre against the wall. He immediately apologised to his team over the radio. This marked the first significant mishap in a dramatic race that featured multiple high-profile retirements, including Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc, who crashed after contact with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, and McLaren’s Lando Norris, who suffered an unexpected mechanical failure. Meanwhile, midfield sensation Isack Hadjar capitalised on the chaos to claim a surprise podium.
Starting from P7, Hamilton was in the perfect position to take advantage of the unpredictable race and end his podium drought. Instead, he walked away empty-handed for a second consecutive weekend, marking the first time this had occurred since the Qatar and United States Grands Prix in 2023.
Hamilton struggles in tricky conditions, say experts
During F1TV’s Dutch Grand Prix coverage, Jolyon Palmer described Hamilton’s crash as “strange,” noting that a light drizzle had created tricky conditions for the drivers. Normally, Hamilton thrives in variable weather, using his experience to charge through the field. With over 20 years in Formula 1, he is the second-most experienced driver on the grid and has historically excelled in such situations.
Palmer suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s error reflected his continued discomfort with the Ferrari SF-25, despite the progress he and the team had shown that weekend. In qualifying, Hamilton had been nearly level with Charles Leclerc, hinting at a resurgence that was ultimately cut short by the Dutch GP incident.
Palmer explained: “The Hamilton one is a strange one. When you think of the drizzle and Lewis Hamilton, you expect him to charge through the field, but he just didn’t seem comfortable in the car and the environment he’s in.”
David Coulthard echoed these concerns, highlighting the “uncomfortable” reality of Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 season. He pointed out that the crash occurred late in the corner when Hamilton had run out of road and grip, making the incident even more frustrating to witness. The former Formula 1 driver warned that the seven-time champion’s struggles were becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Ferrari’s weekend goes from bad to worse
Lewis Hamilton’s crash prompted a safety car and compounded Ferrari’s challenging day. Charles Leclerc, who had just pitted, was particularly frustrated, as the timing could not have been worse. Ultimately, Ferrari recorded their second weekend without points in 2025, following the double disqualification in China earlier this season.
Karun Chandhok described Lewis Hamilton’s error as “odd,” noting that although the painted track surface may have been slippery, other drivers managed the same section without incident. Even Hamilton admitted in the media pen that he could not fully explain what went wrong, though he is expected to review the crash in detail with his Ferrari engineers ahead of Monza.
The Dutch Grand Prix has intensified concerns over Hamilton’s form. Ferrari and the Briton will need to regroup quickly, as another disappointing result at Monza could escalate worries about his performances even further.
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