Hamilton Ends 2025 F1 Season with Another Q1 Elimination in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton's challenging streak with Scuderia Ferrari continued as he faced another first-round qualifying elimination at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a disappointing end to his 2025 F1 season. This result mirrored much of his free practice sessions throughout the weekend.

Why it matters:

• Hamilton's consistent struggles, culminating in a Q1 exit at the season finale, highlight a deeply problematic first season with Ferrari, raising serious questions about the team's performance and Hamilton's future prospects.
• A driver of Hamilton's caliber repeatedly failing to clear the first qualifying hurdle points to fundamental issues within the car's setup or overall team strategy, rather than just driver performance.

The details:

• Hamilton's lap time was over seven-tenths off Oscar Piastri's 1:22.605, placing him 16th in Q1.
• This marked yet another early exit for the British driver, a pattern seen frequently throughout his 2025 campaign.
• Other drivers who failed to progress from Q1 included Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, and Franco Colapinto.
• Hamilton was among the first drivers to take to the track at the start of qualifying, yet couldn't find the pace needed.

The big picture:

• The 2025 season has been a stark contrast to Hamilton's illustrious career, particularly his dominant years with Mercedes. His move to Ferrari, initially heralded as a potential turning point, has instead been plagued by underperformance.
• This Q1 elimination in Abu Dhabi caps off a season that has seen Hamilton often out of contention for pole positions and podium finishes, a worrying trend for both the driver and the team.
• Ferrari's inability to provide Hamilton with a consistently competitive car has fueled speculation about the team's direction and whether major structural changes are needed to compete at the front of the grid.

What's next:

• Both Hamilton and Ferrari will face intense scrutiny during the off-season as they prepare for the 2026 regulations. The pressure will be immense to address the car's fundamental weaknesses and reignite Hamilton's championship-winning form.
• The team will need to conduct a thorough analysis of their car's performance, particularly focusing on qualifying pace and race consistency, to avoid a repeat of the 2025 struggles.
• For Hamilton, the focus will be on adapting further to the Ferrari machinery and working closely with the engineers to develop a more competitive package.