Lewis Hamilton Crashes Ferrari in Abu Dhabi Practice, Raising Concerns
Lewis Hamilton's difficult debut season with Ferrari continued as he crashed during final practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, reporting that "something buckled at the front." The incident led to a red flag and further highlighted the challenges he's faced, likely ending his career-long streak of podium finishes. This raises questions about the SF-25's reliability as Ferrari looks to next season.
Lewis Hamilton's challenging debut season with Ferrari hit another low during final practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he crashed, bringing out a red flag. The incident further highlighted the difficulties he's faced, as he looks set to conclude a season without a podium finish, a first in his illustrious career.
Why it matters:
Hamilton's crash, particularly his report of "something buckled at the front," raises significant concerns about the Ferrari SF-25's reliability and stability as the season concludes. For a driver of Hamilton's caliber to struggle so consistently, and for the car to experience such a failure, points to deeper issues that Ferrari must address as they look ahead to the next season and their ambitions for a championship challenge.
The details:
- Midway through the final practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton lost control at Turn 9, spinning 360 degrees before his SF-25's nose impacted the barrier.
- On team radio, Hamilton reported, "Something buckled at the front and snapped the rear," immediately apologizing to his team.
- The session was red-flagged for 13 minutes while marshals recovered Hamilton's damaged car.
- At the time of the incident, Max Verstappen of Red Bull was fastest with a lap of 1:24.245s, though qualifying simulation runs had not yet commenced for all teams.
The big picture:
Hamilton's move to Ferrari was met with high expectations, but the season has proven to be a stark contrast to his previous successes. This incident serves as a symbolic end to a season characterized by struggles to adapt to the car and persistent performance issues. It underscores the monumental task ahead for Ferrari and Hamilton to build a competitive package capable of fighting at the front of the grid.
What's next:
Ferrari will undoubtedly conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the "buckling" reported by Hamilton. The team's immediate focus will be on repairing the SF-25 for qualifying and the race, hoping to end the season on a more positive note despite this setback. Beyond Abu Dhabi, the pressure will be on Ferrari to deliver a significantly improved car for the upcoming season to support Hamilton's championship aspirations.