Lewis Hamilton’s frustrated radio after Qatar SQ1 exit: “Oh man, the car won’t go any quicker”. Lewis Hamilton is eliminated in Q1 at the Qatar GP Sprint Shootout.

Lewis Hamilton suffered a second consecutive early exit in the Sprint Shootout qualifying. Following the shocking Q1 elimination in Las Vegas, the seven-time world champion was again eliminated in Q1 at the Qatar GP Sprint Shootout. It is another severe blow in his debut season with Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton struggles in Qatar, while Charles Leclerc continues to show a clear performance gap.

Seconds after crossing the finish line, Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration to the team: “Oh man, the car won’t go any quicker.” A short but telling sentence that perfectly summarizes the Briton’s struggles with the SF-25.

Hamilton still out in Q1 while Leclerc reaches Q3 in Qatar

Qatar confirms a worrying trend. In Las Vegas, the Briton had been eliminated immediately, finishing last in Q1. Another difficult Q1 now underscores his ongoing struggles in qualifying. This is becoming hard to ignore, especially considering his teammate is experiencing a completely different situation.

While Hamilton fought to escape the elimination zone, Charles Leclerc secured a place in Q3 with convincing lap times. The gap between the two drivers is evident: Charles Leclerc extracts rhythm, grip, and confidence from the car, while Lewis Hamilton struggles to find stability and cannot put together a competitive lap.

The contrast did not go unnoticed in the paddock, particularly after weeks already challenging for Lewis Hamilton. The SF-25 continues to show significant limitations in qualifying conditions. The British driver cannot compensate for the car’s behavior, whereas Charles Leclerc maximizes the car’s potential, though he also admits there is still performance to gain.

Qatar shootout highlights Ferrari’s struggles

The Sprint Shootout in Qatar paints a clear picture: Ferrari is unable to provide its drivers with a competitive car over a single lap. Lewis Hamilton has been paying the highest price for this in recent weeks.

Lewis Hamilton had started the weekend hoping for a turnaround after the Las Vegas disaster. This new elimination highlights all the challenges he is facing: struggling to find confidence, not feeling the car, and unable to perform at his usual level.

The Maranello team will need to act quickly. With the season entering its final phase, Lewis Hamilton must become competitive at least in qualifying. Qatar marks another difficult chapter in his first year with Ferrari.