Hamilton Admits Qatar GP Recovery Unlikely, Hints at Deeper Ferrari Issues
Lewis Hamilton faced another Q1 exit in Qatar, admitting a recovery drive is unlikely given the circuit's limited overtaking. He also hinted at deeper, unspecified issues within Ferrari beyond just car development, despite supporting the team's early pivot to the 2026 car. Hamilton's struggles and remarks raise concerns about Ferrari's overall direction and ability to resolve fundamental problems.
Lewis Hamilton endured his second consecutive Q1 elimination at the Qatar Grand Prix, acknowledging his struggle to complete a strong final lap during qualifying. Despite slight gains from Ferrari, Hamilton landed P18, far behind teammate Charles Leclerc who secured P10. Hamilton expressed little optimism for Sunday's race due to limited overtaking opportunities at Lusail, suggesting he'll "try something different" strategy-wise.
Why it matters:
Lewis Hamilton's continued struggles, coupled with his pointed remarks about "other things needing attention" within Ferrari, highlight a potentially deeper malaise at Maranello beyond just the performance of the current car. As Ferrari shifts focus to their 2026 contender, Hamilton's comments suggest that a mere change in car development strategy might not resolve fundamental issues, raising questions about the team's ability to return to consistent championship contention.
The Details:
- Q1 Elimination: Hamilton qualified P18 in Qatar, only ahead of Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto. This marks his second straight Q1 exit, following a similar result in the previous Sprint race.
- Ferrari Performance: While Ferrari reportedly made some slight gains between the Sprint and qualifying, Hamilton couldn't capitalize, failing to string together a competitive final lap.
- Teammate Comparison: Charles Leclerc managed to get his car into the top-ten shootout, eventually finishing P10, underscoring the performance gap within the team.
- Overtaking Challenges: Hamilton cited the notoriously limited overtaking opportunities at the Lusail circuit, dampening hopes for a recovery drive in Sunday's race.
- He indicated a willingness to "try something different, a strategy maybe" to improve his position.
- Deeper Issues: Hamilton hinted at "other things that are needing attention" within Ferrari, suggesting that simply focusing on the 2026 car won't fix core problems.
- He refrained from specifying these areas but emphasized that "development's not been the issue."
- Support for 2026 Focus: Hamilton fully supported Ferrari's early pivot to the 2026 car, stating, "I wanted them to move to next year's car, but I wanted to make sure we started early. I was in full support of that, because it's a long year with what we had."
What's next:
Hamilton's candid assessment points to a critical period for Ferrari. While the team's early shift to the 2026 car is a strategic play for future success, the underlying issues Hamilton alluded to demand immediate attention. The true test will be whether Ferrari can address these broader challenges concurrently with their future development, or if the focus on 2026 inadvertently masks deeper systemic problems that could hinder their long-term competitiveness. For Hamilton, Sunday's race will be about damage limitation and an experimental strategy in a bid to salvage any points from a difficult weekend.