The Spanish Grand Prix 2025, disputed on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, will remain engraved in memories like a weekend of disillusionment for Lewis Hamilton and the Scuderia Ferrari. While expectations were high for the seven -time world champion, which hoped to shine under the red colors of Ferrari, the race turned into a real nightmare, marked by technical problems, a disastrous strategy and palpable frustration. Hamilton, known for his legendary composure, let his disappointment burst, calling this test “the worst race of my life”. What happened so that one of the biggest pilots in the history of Formula 1 comes to such a declaration?
As of free tests, the preliminary signs of a difficult weekend were noticeable. During the second test session (FP2), Hamilton complained of a significant loss of aerodynamic support on his Ferrari SF-25, relegating him to almost eight tenths of the best time and 0.273 seconds of his teammate Charles Leclerc. “The demotion does not work properly, my friend. Something is not going well with the change of speeds, “he said by radio, revealing a gearbox problem that has disrupted his preparations. Despite a promising performance in FP1, this technical concern threw a shadow on Ferrari’s ambitions for the race.
In qualifying, Hamilton managed to hoist his car in fifth place on the grid, an encouraging result that let hope of a competitive race. However, from the start, things got complicated. Although he won a position in the first round, Hamilton quickly lost the pace in the face of the leaders, dominated by the McLaren of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Ferrari’s strategy, often criticized for its hazardous decision -making, has further aggravated the situation. A slow stand stop made Hamilton drop to sixth place, behind George Russell, his former teammate at Mercedes. Worse still, Ferrari ordered Hamilton to give up his position to Charles Leclerc, a decision that has obviously irritated the British.
The blow of grace occurred in the last laps, when Hamilton, already in difficulty, was doubled by the Sauber by Nico Hülkenberg. This overtaking, made possible by the new Hülkenberg tires, was an affront for the champion, who saw his race collapse in the overwhelming heat of Barcelona. The security car, deployed after the abandonment of Kimi Antonelli, was not enough to save Hamilton’s day, which ended in a disappointing sixth place, far from the expectations placed in him.
Frédéric Vasseur, the director of Ferrari, tried to minimize the debacle, stressing the podium of Charles Leclerc as a glimmer of hope. “Lewis had a good pace until the last relay, where he reported balance problems,” said Vasseur. “We are going to analyze this, but it was important to bring points back. However, these words did not appease Hamilton, whose frustration was obvious to the microphones. “This day clearly did not go as I hoped,” he said, his face marked by emotion. Some observers have even noted a tear in his eyes, a sign of the magnitude of his disappointment.
This Spanish Grand Prix was also marked by a controversial incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell. Verstappen, furious after a disputed collision, accused Russell of being responsible, declaring: “Everything is his fault, not mine! Russell, stung to the live, replied vehemently, leaving Verstappen speechless. This exchange added a dose of drama to a race already rich in twists and turns.
For Ferrari, despite the Leclerc podium, this weekend has highlighted persistent flaws in strategic management and technical reliability. Hamilton, who had joined the Italian stable with the hope of reconnecting with victory, finds himself confronted with the same challenges he had encountered at Mercedes: unpredictable technical problems and questionable strategic decisions. While the 2025 championship is progressing, all eyes are turned to Ferrari and Hamilton. The Briton, known for his resilience, will seek to redeem himself from the Grand Prix of Canada. But one question remains: will Scuderia can learn from this fiasco to offer Hamilton the car and the strategy worthy of its talent? Only the future will tell us.
