Hamilton's 'Nightmare' Continues with Brazil GP Retirement
Lewis Hamilton described his Brazilian Grand Prix retirement as a "nightmare," reflecting on a challenging season without a podium and trailing his teammate. His Ferrari suffered floor damage after collisions with Sainz and Colapinto. Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains committed to the team, finding hope in Leclerc's qualifying pace amidst ongoing performance struggles.
Lewis Hamilton endured a "nightmare" Brazilian Grand Prix, retiring mid-race due to suspected floor damage after incidents with Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto. This latest setback compounds a challenging season for the seven-time world champion, who sits sixth in the championship, 66 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, without a single grand prix podium.
Why it matters:
Hamilton's struggles highlight the ongoing performance issues at Ferrari this season, despite his imminent move to the team for 2025. For a driver of his caliber, a season without a podium finish and lagging significantly behind his teammate is a stark indicator of the car's current limitations and the team's uphill battle to return to championship contention. His candid remarks about living a "nightmare" underscore the immense pressure and frustration within the Scuderia.
The Details:
- Hamilton retired on lap 37 of the Brazilian Grand Prix due to suspected floor damage. Initial contact with Carlos Sainz at Turn 1 was followed by a more significant incident with Franco Colapinto on the start-finish straight, where Hamilton misjudged an overtake, clipping Colapinto's rear and tearing off his own front wing.
- This incident resulted in a five-second penalty for Hamilton, adding to an already disappointing weekend that included a seventh-place finish in the sprint race and a Q2 exit in grand prix qualifying.
- Season-long struggles: Hamilton's season has been underwhelming overall. He currently holds sixth in the championship standings, is yet to achieve a grand prix podium, and trails his teammate Charles Leclerc by a substantial 66 points.
- Leclerc's misfortune: Charles Leclerc also retired from the race on lap six after being hit by Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes, which was sandwiched between Leclerc's Ferrari and Oscar Piastri's McLaren at Turn 1. Despite this, Leclerc had shown promising pace, qualifying third for the Grand Prix.
Between the lines:
Hamilton's brief, yet poignant, interview with Sky Sports F1 reveals deep-seated frustration. His reference to "living in a nightmare for a while" and the contrast between the "dream of driving for this amazing team" and the "nightmare of the results" paints a vivid picture of the emotional toll the current performance is taking. Despite the difficulties, his belief in the team and the car's potential, as evidenced by Leclerc's qualifying performance, suggests a determination to overcome these challenges rather than despair.
What's next:
Hamilton remains resolute, stating his commitment to getting back up, training, and working with the team to recover in the next race. He finds a glimmer of hope in Leclerc's qualifying performance, suggesting that the Ferrari car does possess underlying pace. The challenge now lies in consistently extracting that performance and, crucially, addressing the reliability and incident-prone aspects that have plagued their season. Hamilton's unwavering belief in the team and his own destiny hints at a fierce fightback in the remaining races, aiming to end this "nightmare" season on a stronger note and build momentum for the future.