Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of completing a full calendar year without standing on a Formula 1 podium, following his retirement from the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix while running down in 18th position.
The 40-year-old seven-time world champion has not reached a Grand Prix rostrum since finishing second with Mercedes at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 23. In that race, Lewis Hamilton was beaten by teammate George Russell by just over seven seconds, a result that marked the final podium of his Mercedes era.
Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes at the end of 2024 to fulfill his lifelong dream of racing for Ferrari in 2025. However, the move has proven challenging, with Lewis Hamilton describing his experience in Maranello as a “nightmare” after failing to reach the podium in all 21 rounds so far this season.
Prior to joining Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton had never gone beyond the tenth round of any season without finishing on the podium in his 19-year Formula 1 career. His struggles in 2025 also mean he is on track to record his lowest points total under the current F1 scoring system, introduced in 2010.
Disaster in Sao Paulo: Hamilton’s collision with Franco Colapinto
Hamilton’s championship campaign has suffered further setbacks in Brazil. Currently sixth in the drivers’ standings with 148 points and three races remaining, he trails rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced him at Mercedes and now sits seventh with 122 points after his second-place finish at Interlagos.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was effectively over for Lewis Hamilton by Lap 15. He retired on Lap 38 after sustaining heavy floor damage in a collision with Alpine driver Franco Colapinto on the opening lap. He had also made contact with Carlos Sainz of Williams at Turn 1, which left him down in P18 early in the race.
Race stewards handed Hamilton a 5-second time penalty for the Franco Colapinto collision, ruling that he was primarily at fault for rear-ending the Argentine at Turn 15. The impact damaged Hamilton’s front wing and caused debris to become lodged under his car, destabilizing the Ferrari SF-25.
While the Briton described the penalty as a “complete joke,” veteran F1 commentator Marc Surer argued that it was deserved, stating that Hamilton had been driving “like a maniac” during the incident. Surer noted that Hamilton made multiple abrupt direction changes while attempting to overtake Franco Colapinto, exacerbating the situation.
Qualifying struggles and desperate overtakes
Lewis Hamilton started the Brazilian Grand Prix from 13th on the grid after a disappointing qualifying session, further compounding his challenges. The early contact with Carlos Sainz dropped him to 18th, leaving him with an uphill battle. On the opening lap, Hamilton attempted a daring maneuver to pass Franco Colapinto at Turn 14 and then Turn 15, but his timing was slightly off, resulting in a collision that ultimately ended his race.
Marc Surer criticized Lewis Hamilton’s approach, highlighting that the Ferrari driver’s aggressive tactics, combined with the soft C4 Pirelli tyres, contributed to the accident. The SF-25 became increasingly unstable after floor damage, leaving Lewis Hamilton unable to recover any meaningful position despite his efforts.
Hamilton’s looming Las Vegas challenge
With the next round of the 2025 season set for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton faces mounting pressure to secure his first podium as a Ferrari driver. The British star has managed only one fourth-place finish over the past nine races, and failing to finish in the top three in Sin City would mark a full year without a Grand Prix rostrum—a first in his illustrious F1 career.
The Las Vegas race presents Lewis Hamilton with a critical opportunity to restore momentum, regain confidence, and prove that he can still compete at the front despite the challenges that have plagued his debut season with Ferrari. Every point will be crucial as he battles not only for personal redemption but also to help Ferrari in their fight in the constructors’ championship.
Leave a Reply