Hamilton Disappointed After Tough Brazil Saturday, Calls it 'Another Write-Off Weekend'

Lewis Hamilton expressed deep frustration after a challenging Saturday at Interlagos, labeling his Brazilian Grand Prix weekend as "another write-off." Despite his storied history at the circuit, including his first world title in 2008 and three race wins, Hamilton could only manage seventh in the sprint and a disappointing 13th for Sunday's main race. He has yet to secure a Grand Prix podium since joining Ferrari this season.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's ongoing struggles highlight a difficult transition period for the seven-time world champion at Ferrari. His inability to find consistent form or podium finishes, especially when contrasted with teammate Charles Leclerc's stronger performance, raises questions about Ferrari's overall package and Hamilton's adaptation to the new car. For a driver of his caliber, these results are a significant departure from expectations and put pressure on the team to improve.

The details:

• Sprint Race: Hamilton finished P7 in the Saturday sprint race.
• Qualifying: He qualified P13 for Sunday's Grand Prix, placing him deep in the midfield.
• Teammate Performance: Charles Leclerc, Hamilton's Ferrari teammate, qualified P3 for the main race, showing stronger pace and confidence.
• Podium Drought: Hamilton has not achieved a Grand Prix podium finish since his move to Ferrari.
• Driver Frustration: Hamilton stated, "It's another write-off weekend I guess. I've been trying it all year but it just continues to go bad every weekend." He also commented on the difficulty of overtaking at Interlagos, saying the sprint taught him "just that you can't overtake."
• Leclerc's Optimism: Leclerc, despite having never podiumed at Interlagos, expressed confidence in Sunday's race pace, noting the car seemed strong in clear air during the sprint.

What's next:

Hamilton will start from P13 on Sunday, facing a significant challenge to salvage any points. The focus will be on whether Ferrari can extract better performance from his car or if strategic decisions can help him climb through the field. For Leclerc, starting P3 offers a strong opportunity to convert his qualifying pace into a podium finish, potentially extending Ferrari's Constructors' Championship points tally. The team will need to analyze the stark difference in performance between their two drivers to understand and address the underlying issues ahead of the final races of the season.