Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing performance at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix has prompted a severe assessment from former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer, who believes the Ferrari star showed genuine strength in only one phase of the race. Despite an extraordinary opening lap that saw him climb from 20th to ninth, the seven-time world champion struggled throughout the remainder of the afternoon and ultimately finished where he had been running after his initial charge.
The criticism follows Hamilton’s admission that he was devastated by the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Ferrari struggled with tyre temperatures, excessive oversteer and a lack of competitive pace. Even a remarkable start could not compensate for the difficulties that developed as the conditions changed at Interlagos, leaving both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc outside the leading positions.
Marc Surer criticises Lewis Hamilton’s Brazilian GP performance
Speaking to Motorsport-Total, former Brabham driver Marc Surer delivered a particularly negative verdict on Hamilton’s weekend. He considered the British driver’s qualifying performance disappointing and argued that, after an impressive start, his race performance had once again fallen below expectations.
For Surer, the opening lap was effectively the only positive aspect of Hamilton’s Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver had begun the race from 20th on the grid after an engine change resulted in a penalty, yet he immediately made significant progress through the field.
However, the recovery did not develop into the stronger result that his early performance had suggested was possible. Hamilton subsequently lost ground during the race before climbing back to ninth at the chequered flag.
The changing running order highlighted how dramatically his afternoon evolved after the opening lap. Fans can follow those movements through the F1 Race Position and Progression Tracker, which allows detailed comparisons of drivers’ positions throughout a Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable start from P20 provides Ferrari’s only highlight
Hamilton’s starting position was the consequence of further Ferrari power unit difficulties during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. The team had already replaced his internal combustion engine before FP3, but additional problems subsequently required another engine change after the session, leaving him at the back of the grid.
The 41-year-old responded with an outstanding getaway on the wet and sloping Interlagos starting grid. Rather than remaining trapped behind the cars ahead, he immediately attacked around the outside approaching Turn 1 and used that line to gain further ground through the Senna S.
His acceleration and positioning were so effective that he was already able to draw alongside Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who had started 14th following an internal combustion engine replacement of his own.
As other drivers battled for position, Hamilton continued exploiting the available space. He maintained his momentum along the Reta Oposta and challenged Haas driver Oliver Bearman around the outside through Descida do Lago at Turn 5.
That move initially allowed the seven-time world champion to advance further, but Ferrari instructed him to return ninth position to Bearman because the overtake had been completed beyond the track limits.
Nevertheless, Hamilton had already demonstrated his ability to capitalise on the difficult conditions, gaining 11 positions on the opening lap. His dramatic progress was captured in onboard footage of his remarkable Brazilian Grand Prix start.
Unfortunately for Ferrari, the performance that had characterised the first few corners proved impossible to maintain over the remaining distance.
Ferrari’s tyre problems and strategy hesitation undermine Hamilton’s recovery
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix unfolded in difficult wet-dry-wet conditions, forcing drivers and teams to continually reassess tyre performance as the circuit evolved.
Hamilton recognised that the track was becoming suitable for slick tyres and urged Ferrari to bring him into the pits. However, the Scuderia initially rejected his requests because its simulations indicated that remaining on intermediate tyres was still the faster option.
The delay left Hamilton losing ground to the drivers around him, while problems with tyre temperatures further complicated his race. Charles Leclerc also struggled with tyre management during the Brazilian Grand Prix, suggesting that the difficulties were not confined to one side of the Ferrari garage.
The challenges became particularly visible as Hamilton found himself battling drivers who had initially been behind him. On Lap 10 of the 71-lap race, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso briefly moved ahead of his former teammate for 13th place, completing an ambitious move around the outside of Turn 5 as the circuit continued to dry.
The incident illustrated how much Hamilton’s situation had changed since his impressive first lap. Having immediately reached ninth from the back of the grid, he was now fighting to regain positions as the Ferrari struggled to maintain competitive performance.
Changing conditions made the selection and timing of tyre changes particularly important, but the Italian team’s difficulties extended beyond its strategy decisions. Both drivers were unable to consistently extract the performance they needed from their cars.
Lewis Hamilton admits devastation after finishing ninth at Interlagos
Following the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton expressed his disappointment in a message published on Instagram, acknowledging that the result had been especially painful because of the way his race ended.
He explained that the afternoon had begun encouragingly before tyre problems and substantial oversteer made the Ferrari extremely difficult to drive. The changing conditions only increased those challenges, preventing him from building on the progress achieved at the start.
Hamilton emphasised that he had pushed as hard as possible but admitted that the team had simply lacked the necessary pace throughout the weekend. He also confirmed that Ferrari would investigate the reasons for its difficulties and work towards delivering a stronger performance at the following Grand Prix.
Despite his frustration, the seven-time world champion made a point of recognising the extensive effort invested by the Ferrari personnel throughout the weekend. He expressed his appreciation for their work while acknowledging that the final outcome had fallen short of what the team wanted to achieve.
The result was particularly disappointing given the potential suggested by his first lap. After reaching ninth almost immediately, Hamilton eventually finished in the same position, while teammate Charles Leclerc crossed the line in eighth.
Ferrari’s lack of pace was further underlined when race winner Lando Norris lapped Hamilton. The McLaren driver’s arrival took the British Ferrari driver by surprise as his compatriot moved past him on the way to victory.
For Surer, the contrast between Hamilton’s exceptional opening lap and his difficulties throughout the remainder of the race provided the clearest assessment of his performance. What began as a remarkable recovery from last on the grid ended in another frustrating result for Ferrari, leaving the team with important questions about its competitiveness in changing conditions.
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