Hamilton's Qatar Sprint Qualifying Woes Continue with Early Exit
Lewis Hamilton endured another difficult session at the Qatar Grand Prix, exiting Sprint Qualifying in SQ1 and finishing 18th. His frustrated post-session comments, like "Same as always," highlight ongoing issues with Ferrari's SF-25. This early elimination underscores the team's inconsistent performance and the challenge they face in providing a consistently competitive car for the seven-time world champion.
Lewis Hamilton's challenging season with Ferrari took another disappointing turn at the Qatar Grand Prix, as the seven-time world champion was eliminated early in Sprint Qualifying. His terse post-session remarks highlight ongoing frustrations with the SF-25's performance.
Why it matters:
Hamilton's struggles underscore Ferrari's inconsistent performance and their uphill battle to consistently compete at the front. For a driver of Hamilton's caliber, repeated early exits in crucial sessions not only affect individual morale but also raise questions about the team's ability to provide a competitive package, especially with significant regulation changes on the horizon.
The details:
- Hamilton was knocked out in SQ1 at the Losail International Circuit, finishing 18th, ahead of only the two Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto.
- This early exit is particularly notable as Hamilton is the only Ferrari driver to have secured a Sprint victory since the format's introduction in 2021.
- His initial radio message, "Ah man, the car won't go any quicker," conveyed his immediate frustration with the SF-25's pace.
- When asked by F1 TV if the car was tricky to drive, Hamilton's brief response, "Same as always," indicated a recurring problem.
- When pressed for any positives, Hamilton sarcastically replied, "The weather's nice."
- In contrast, teammate Charles Leclerc managed to reach SQ3, but only qualified ninth, over half a second behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri.
The big picture:
Ferrari's performance in Qatar Sprint Qualifying mirrors a broader season of ups and downs. While Leclerc occasionally shows flashes of pace, the team's overall consistency and ability to extract maximum performance from both cars remain a challenge. This inconsistency is particularly concerning as the sport gears up for the 2026 regulation changes, where every data point and development step is crucial.
What's next:
With the Sprint Race and the main Grand Prix still to come, Hamilton and Ferrari will be looking for opportunities to recover. However, the early exit from Sprint Qualifying puts them on the back foot, requiring strong strategic decisions and flawless driving to salvage points from the weekend. The team will undoubtedly analyze the data to understand the car's limitations at Losail and aim for better performance in the upcoming sessions, hoping to find a setup that allows both drivers to extract more pace.