Lewis Hamilton criticised after risky Singapore Grand Prix drive with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s challenging 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari continued at the Singapore Grand Prix, where his controversial actions and post-race comments sparked sharp criticism from former F1 driver and pundit Christian Danner. The seven-time world champion’s hopes of securing his first podium finish for Ferrari remain unfulfilled after 18 rounds, deepening concerns over the Scuderia’s underwhelming campaign.
Hamilton’s difficult race weekend in Marina Bay ended with another modest finish, as the British driver crossed the line eighth following a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. The incident occurred after his Ferrari SF-25 developed a serious brake issue in the final laps, forcing him to cut several chicanes just to reach the chequered flag.
The Singapore GP marked the continuation of Hamilton’s longest podium drought in his F1 career, a striking contrast to his dominant Mercedes years. Since his best result of fourth at the 2025 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, the Ferrari driver has failed to finish higher than sixth, despite flashes of potential throughout qualifying sessions. His penalty in Singapore only compounded the team’s growing frustrations as Ferrari’s pursuit of consistency continues to falter.
Christian Danner ‘horrified’ by Hamilton’s decision to continue with brake failure
During the chaotic closing stages of the race, Lewis Hamilton battled Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes for fifth place when a severe brake failure struck his car. Despite losing most of his braking power on the front-left corner, the Briton opted to continue, navigating the circuit with aggressive corner cuts to nurse the car home. This move angered Fernando Alonso, who was rapidly catching up in his Aston Martin and was left infuriated by what he viewed as unsafe driving.
Alonso’s frustration was evident as he finished just 0.4 seconds behind the struggling Ferrari, after initially trailing by more than 45 seconds. The incident prompted Christian Danner to publicly criticise Hamilton’s decision, describing it as alarming and dangerous. Danner expressed that, in his view, a Formula 1 driver should immediately retire the car in such a situation to prevent potential accidents, regardless of race position or remaining laps.
According to Christian Danner, Lewis Hamilton’s choice to continue on a damaged car “could not be considered safe,” as visible sparks from the failed brake disc demonstrated the severity of the mechanical issue. He also noted that the veteran driver’s experience should have guided him toward prioritising safety over race completion, particularly at a circuit as unforgiving as Marina Bay.
Hamilton defends Ferrari’s brake strategy despite mounting criticism
After the race, Lewis Hamilton defended his actions and Ferrari’s technical decisions, suggesting that slowing his pace helped prevent a complete brake failure. He argued that the team’s design choice—using smaller brake discs to minimise aerodynamic drag—was a contributing factor to the issue, as the components overheated faster on the demanding Singapore street circuit.
Lewis Hamilton explained that once he began to cool the brakes, performance slightly improved, allowing him to finish the race despite the severe degradation. However, the decision to push through the final laps drew scrutiny, as it resulted in time penalties and further questions about Ferrari’s risk management approach during races.
In contrast, Charles Leclerc adopted a more cautious driving style after encountering his own brake concerns from the early stages of the Grand Prix. His restraint allowed him to maintain position and cross the line in sixth, finishing over half a minute ahead of Alonso. While Charles Leclerc’s race pace was also restricted by the technical problems, his conservative approach was seen as the wiser option given Ferrari’s current fragility.
Ferrari’s technical gamble continues to backfire
The SF-25’s brake issues have now become symbolic of Ferrari’s broader struggles in the 2025 F1 season. The team’s attempts to innovate through aggressive aerodynamic and mechanical experiments have often produced the opposite of the desired outcome, compromising reliability and drivability. Lewis Hamilton’s troubles in Singapore serve as the latest example of how far Ferrari still need to go before returning to consistent competitiveness.
With Mercedes and McLaren surging ahead in performance, Ferrari’s focus now shifts to addressing the fundamental weaknesses in their car’s setup. The Maranello-based outfit faces mounting pressure from chairman John Elkann and team principal Fred Vasseur to stabilise their development direction ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.
As for Hamilton, the frustration of another missed opportunity may test his patience with Ferrari’s ongoing rebuilding phase. His partnership with Fred Vasseur remains a key factor in maintaining optimism, but results like Singapore risk undermining morale across the team. For now, Ferrari’s immediate priority is solving the reliability woes that continue to turn potential points into painful lessons.
What’s next for Hamilton and Ferrari?
With just a handful of races remaining in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari’s focus has inevitably shifted toward preparing for the next era of regulations. However, the Briton’s continued podium drought highlights the magnitude of the task at hand. The team’s engineers are already working to ensure that the issues that plagued Singapore—such as brake overheating and setup sensitivity—are not repeated in future races.
Meanwhile, Christian Danner’s criticism underscores a growing perception within the Formula 1 community that Ferrari’s problems go beyond hardware and extend into decision-making and race execution. The Maranello-based squad must not only fix their car but also restore confidence both inside and outside the garage if they are to mount a credible comeback in 2026.
Until then, Lewis Hamilton’s time at Ferrari continues to be defined by frustration, missed opportunities, and a desperate search for redemption. The Singapore Grand Prix, meant to showcase the team’s resilience, instead became another chapter in a season that refuses to deliver on its promise.
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