Hamilton Slams Ferrari After Disastrous Qatar GP Sprint Race

Lewis Hamilton endured another forgettable race at the Qatar Sprint, finishing a dismal seventeenth. The seven-time world champion's frustration was palpable over team radio, stating, "I don know how we made the car worse," highlighting his ongoing struggles with the SF25 throughout the season.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's blunt assessment underscores Ferrari's persistent performance and reliability issues, which are severely hampering their championship aspirations. His struggle, coupled with Charles Leclerc's equally poor showing, reveals a deeper systemic problem at Maranello that they've yet to resolve, impacting driver confidence and team morale.

The Details:

• Hamilton started from the pit lane after opting for a setup change, a gamble that clearly backfired as evidenced by his finishing position.
• Teammate Charles Leclerc fared little better, finishing thirteenth and stuck behind Oliver Bearman's Haas for the entire race.
• Constructors' Championship Impact: Ferrari's poor showing allowed Mercedes to further solidify their second-place position, with George Russell securing P2. This leaves Ferrari likely condemned to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, 22 points behind Red Bull and a significant 61 points adrift of Mercedes.
• The SF25 has been a consistent source of frustration for Hamilton, who has struggled to find a comfortable feel with the car almost all season, leading to repeated poor performances.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari continues to be trapped in a negative spiral of results, seemingly unable to escape its current performance rut. Despite expectations, the team has struggled to deliver a consistently competitive package, leaving them far behind rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull. This consistent underperformance is not only impacting their championship standings but also raising questions about their development strategy and execution for future seasons.

What's next:

With only two races remaining, Ferrari's immediate focus will be on salvaging some pride and understanding the root causes of their struggles to inform their 2026 development. The pressure is mounting on the Maranello team to find solutions and return to a competitive state, especially with Hamilton's candid remarks bringing increased scrutiny to their engineering decisions and overall team direction. Their ability to address these fundamental issues will be critical for their future in Formula 1.