Ferrari Urged to Investigate Hamilton's Las Vegas Tyre Struggles

Bernie Collins, former Aston Martin head of race strategy, believes Ferrari must "urgently" investigate why Lewis Hamilton struggled significantly during his medium-tyre stint at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite initial progress, Hamilton's pace vanished after pitting, ultimately leading to a disappointing performance that left him "crestfallen."

Why it matters:

Ferrari's 2025 season is pivotal as they look to build on recent momentum and challenge for the championship. Hamilton's unexpected struggles in Las Vegas, particularly with tire performance, highlight potential underlying issues that could hamper their ambitions. Addressing these problems proactively is crucial for the team to consistently compete at the front.

The details:

• Initial Struggle: Hamilton qualified P19 in Las Vegas, his lowest grid position due to outright pace in his F1 career, after a challenging qualifying session.
• Early Race Progress: He showed strong pace in the first stint on hard tires, making good progress through the field.
• Mid-Race Collapse: After pitting for medium tires, Hamilton's performance sharply declined. He struggled to overtake Nico Hulkenberg's Stake, a car the Ferrari should have easily outpaced.
• Tire Performance Issue: Collins noted that the medium tire stint for Hamilton "went from bad to worse." The initial laps were slow, allowing Hulkenberg to defend the undercut, and in the final stint, Hamilton continued to drop behind.
• Hamilton's Reaction: Post-race, Hamilton described 2025 as his "worst season ever" and expressed feeling "terrible" about the underwhelming result, especially the non-challenging final laps.

Between the lines:

Collins's analysis points to a specific and critical issue with tire management or car setup on the medium compound that needs immediate attention from Ferrari. Given Hamilton's strong start on hard tires, the dramatic drop-off on mediums suggests a fundamental problem rather than just race circumstances. This isn't just about one bad race; it indicates a potential weakness that could be exploited by rivals in future events. The fact that he couldn't pass a car he should have easily cleared underscores the severity of the problem.

What's next:

Ferrari will need to conduct a thorough investigation into the telemetry and race data from Las Vegas to understand the precise reasons behind Hamilton's medium-tire struggles. Identifying and rectifying this issue will be paramount as they continue their development efforts for the upcoming season. Resolving such performance anomalies is key to ensuring that their car delivers consistent performance across different tire compounds and race conditions, thereby maximizing Hamilton's potential and solidifying their championship aspirations.