Hamilton Deems São Paulo GP 'A Write-Off' After Shock Q2 Exit

Lewis Hamilton was visibly dejected after qualifying in São Paulo, admitting that his Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos was effectively over following a dismal Q2 exit that left him starting 13th on the grid. The Ferrari driver, who had hoped to regain momentum after several challenging races, described his mental state as "not good" and his weekend as "another write-off."

Why it matters:

Hamilton's struggle in São Paulo underscores a recurring issue for Ferrari this season: inconsistent tire performance and the challenge of optimizing their SF-25. This performance gap between Hamilton and his teammate, Charles Leclerc, highlights the delicate balance required to extract pace from the car and could significantly impact Ferrari's standing in the Constructors' Championship as the season progresses.

The details:

• Hamilton's qualifying session unraveled in Q2, where he struggled significantly to generate tire temperature in his Ferrari SF-25, a problem he described as distinct from previous setup issues.
• Despite the consistent issue, Hamilton dismissed suggestions that Ferrari's operational processes contributed to the problem, stating, "it's not the same, I think the execution in terms of the times we got out and everything is fine, it's just the rears are at a place that I can't get to temperature for them to stop that."
• His teammate, Charles Leclerc, conversely, managed to secure third on the grid, demonstrating the car's potential when tire temperatures are optimized.
• Leclerc's Perspective: Leclerc expressed satisfaction with Ferrari's "perfect execution" in qualifying, acknowledging the marginal differences that separated Q1 exits from Q3 entries. He noted that a mere tenth and a half could be the difference between a strong and weak performance.
• Hamilton's earlier participation in the Sprint race provided no valuable insights, as he flatly stated, "You can't overtake."

The big picture:

This string of underperforming Saturdays is taking a noticeable toll on Hamilton's morale. His frank admission of a "not great" mental state points to the increasing pressure and frustration of not being able to consistently compete at the front. The contrasting performances within the Ferrari garage also highlight the finicky nature of modern F1 cars and the critical importance of getting the tires into their optimal operating window, a challenge that has plagued multiple teams at various points this season.

What's next:

Hamilton remains unoptimistic for Sunday's race, stating, "I'm not expecting anything to be honest, but we'll see what happens — it's another write-off weekend I guess." While Leclerc aims for another podium finish, Hamilton faces an uphill battle from 13th, a position he seems to have emotionally accepted. The team will need to analyze the data to understand the stark difference in performance and prevent similar issues in future races, especially as the 2025 season approaches.