The collision immediately put Lewis Hamilton at a disadvantage, with visible damage impacting the Ferrari’s aerodynamic performance. From that moment onward, the Briton was forced to manage a car that lacked balance and consistent downforce, making the race increasingly challenging.
Later in the Grand Prix, as the field approached Turn 17, Lewis Hamilton was able to overtake Colapinto with ease. However, the move came with clear tension. Onboard footage captured the Briton’s reaction after completing the pass, as he appeared to make a rude hand gesture directed at the Argentine driver.
The moment was widely interpreted as a reaction to the earlier contact, effectively a “message” sent in response to the damage sustained. The clip quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing significant attention and sparking debate among fans due to the rare emotional reaction from the seven-time world champion.
The incident left Lewis Hamilton concerned about the extent of the damage on car #44. Throughout the race, he repeatedly communicated with his race engineer Carlos Santi, warning that the situation would make for a “long” and difficult Grand Prix due to the loss of aerodynamic efficiency and the resulting imbalance.
As a consequence, Lewis Hamilton’s race became a constant struggle with consistency, as he was forced into an irregular rhythm, alternating between periods of reduced pace and recovery. The compromised handling characteristics were a direct result of the early-race contact with the Alpine driver.
Despite these difficulties, the Ferrari driver managed to bring the car home in sixth position. He ultimately benefited from a penalty handed to his teammate Charles Leclerc, which dropped the Monegasque driver down to eighth place in the final classification.
Speaking after the race, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion expressed his frustration over the situation, saying:
“It was a frustrating race, guys. After the damage, the car’s performance was basically gone. I’m sorry about that.”
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