A subdued Brazil
In recent races, particularly in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton had shown some improvement, translating into a more positive approach to an undeniably difficult season. The iconic winter photos that once circulated worldwide now seem a distant memory, as Ferrari has not provided Lewis Hamilton with a winning car, and the seven-time world champion has consistently trailed his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc.
Notably, the only record Lewis Hamilton has achieved so far with Ferrari is the highest number of races without a first podium, which has now reached 21. Brazil, a country where Hamilton holds honorary citizenship, offered no respite, with disastrous qualifying sessions (11th on Friday and 13th on Saturday), an anonymous Sprint race ending in seventh, and a main Grand Prix resembling more a torment than a competition. At the start, he was clipped by Carlos Sainz, later rear-ended Franco Colapinto, and after serving a penalty, was forced to retire.
The bitter reflection
Among Lewis Hamilton’s post-race comments, one stands out as a clear reflection of his mindset. For weeks, he attempted to maintain a positive attitude, but after Interlagos, he shared a broader, candid view of his overwhelmingly disappointing season: “It’s a nightmare, and I’ve been living it for a while. The transition from the dream of driving for this extraordinary team to the nightmare of the results we’ve achieved – with the highs and lows – has been challenging.” – the British driver admitted at Interlagos.
Despite a frustrating weekend, Lewis Hamilton still tried to find some positive takeaways: “It would be wrong to say there are no positives. Looking at Charles’ qualifying performance, you can see that the car does have some pace.” – the seven-time Formula 1 world champion concluded at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
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