‘Devastated’ Lewis Hamilton makes alarming Max Verstappen C…..read more
Lewis Hamilton expressed deep disappointment after failing to make it past Q2 in the qualifying session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, held at the iconic Imola circuit. The seven-time world champion described his early exit as “devastating,” particularly given the high expectations surrounding Ferrari’s performance at their home race. The result marks the second consecutive event in which Hamilton has been unable to reach the final qualifying segment, Q3, and once again finds himself starting outside the top 10 — in 11th place — for Sunday’s race.
Adding to the sting of the result is the symbolic importance of the Imola circuit to Ferrari. As the team’s spiritual home, the grandstands were filled with passionate Tifosi, many of whom were eagerly anticipating a strong showing from Hamilton, the team’s high-profile signing for the 2025 season. However, the Briton was left disillusioned by the performance of his SF-25, especially when compared to the dominance of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Hamilton didn’t shy away from acknowledging the gap between his current machinery and that of his rival. He openly suggested that Verstappen’s Red Bull continues to operate on a level that Ferrari has yet to reach, both in terms of raw pace and consistent performance. The comparison underlined Hamilton’s growing frustration with the team’s inability to provide a car capable of challenging for pole positions and race wins on a regular basis.
The setback was compounded by the fact that Hamilton finished qualifying just ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, who also failed to progress into Q3. With both Ferrari drivers starting in the midfield, the team faces a difficult task to recover significant positions during the race. This comes at a time when Ferrari had hoped to build momentum and mount a challenge against Red Bull’s continued dominance.
Hamilton’s comments reflect a growing concern that despite the optimism surrounding his future move to Ferrari, the team still has significant ground to cover before it can regularly compete with Red Bull. As the season progresses, results like this may fuel doubts about whether Ferrari can deliver the competitive edge Hamilton needs to challenge for an eighth world title.
The mood in the Ferrari garage was palpably low following qualifying, with both drivers and fans left disappointed. For Hamilton, the experience served as a harsh reminder of the work that lies ahead if he hopes to return to the front of the grid and break Red Bull’s stranglehold on the sport.
