Hamilton Calls Ferrari Season a "Nightmare" After Sao Paulo GP

Lewis Hamilton frankly described his disappointing Ferrari season as a "nightmare" following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, expressing profound frustration with the team's performance despite his initial dreams of joining the Scuderia. His struggles culminated in a DNF at Interlagos, a track where he previously celebrated a historic win.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's candid remarks underscore the deep-seated challenges Ferrari faces as it strives to return to championship contention. The seven-time world champion's frustration highlights the immense pressure and the gap between the team's aspirations and its current on-track performance, making his future contributions and the team's strategic direction critical talking points.

The Details:

• Hamilton openly stated, "It's a nightmare, and I've been living it for quite a while now." He expressed the difficulty of transitioning from the dream of driving for Ferrari to the inconsistency of their results.
• Challenging Weekend: The Sao Paulo GP proved particularly grim for Hamilton. He qualified 11th on Friday, 13th for the Sprint Qualifying on Saturday, and finished 7th in the Sprint race itself.
• Race Incidents: The main race saw multiple setbacks. Hamilton made contact with teammate Carlos Sainz early on and later collided with Franco Colapinto while attempting an overtake, damaging his front wing.
• Retirement: Following a time penalty, Hamilton was forced to retire from the Grand Prix, marking a low point in a season already riddled with difficulties.
• Glimmer of Hope: Despite his personal struggles, Hamilton acknowledged the car's potential, noting Charles Leclerc's strong qualifying performance. "It would be wrong to say there's nothing good. If you look at Charles's qualifying performance, you can see the car definitely has potential."

The big picture:

Hamilton's remarks come at a critical juncture for Ferrari, a team that has historically struggled to convert raw pace into consistent championship challenges. His "nightmare" season in Sao Paulo – a place where he is an honorary citizen and secured one of his most emotional victories in 2021 – further amplifies the team's need for a significant turnaround. The contrast between his dream move to Ferrari and the current reality poses tough questions for the team's long-term strategy and development path.

What's next:

Ferrari will need to address the reliability and performance gaps that are clearly frustrating their star driver. With the season progressing, all eyes will be on how the team supports Hamilton and Leclerc in the upcoming races, and what technical and strategic adjustments are made to improve their competitive standing and mitigate the "nightmare" scenarios.