Ferrari Launches Internal Review After Hamilton’s Troubling Performance at Spanish GP
Ferrari has confirmed that it will carry out a thorough investigation into Lewis Hamilton’s underperformance at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, after what team boss Fred Vasseur described as a surprising and unexplained decline in pace. The seven-time world champion finished a distant sixth in Barcelona, despite initially outqualifying his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton’s weekend began with optimism after a strong qualifying session, where he edged out Leclerc and lined up well on the grid. However, any momentum he had quickly faded during Sunday’s race. By Lap 10, Ferrari’s pit wall instructed Hamilton to yield to Leclerc, who had clearly found stronger pace. The Monegasque driver went on to finish third, while Hamilton steadily slipped down the order. The low point came when he was passed by Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg following a safety car period—a moment that underlined how far off the pace Hamilton had fallen.
Speaking after the race, Vasseur noted that Ferrari had shown strong overall form in recent rounds, including solid performances at Imola and Monaco. “We’ve had a positive run over the past three races and are firmly fighting for second in the constructors’ standings,” Vasseur stated. “But Lewis had a particularly difficult race in Spain. His pace looked manageable until the final stint, and then everything seemed to drop off. We need to investigate what caused that shift.”
Hamilton himself was visibly disheartened after the race, describing it as one of the worst experiences he’s had in terms of car balance and performance. The 40-year-old British driver admitted he had no answers for the sudden drop in competitiveness and was unable to point to any specific issue, whether technical or strategic, that could explain the struggles.
This uncertainty has fueled speculation in the F1 world. Former teammate and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg weighed in, hinting that Hamilton’s age might now be a factor. As the oldest driver currently on the grid, Hamilton’s consistency is being questioned following an otherwise steady season start.
Adding to the mystery, Vasseur disclosed in a post-race interview with Sky Sports that Hamilton’s car suffered from a technical issue just before the safety car was deployed. However, he withheld further details, saying only that the team would analyze the data thoroughly during the upcoming break before the next Grand Prix. The lack of clarity about the nature of the problem has only deepened the intrigue around Hamilton’s poor showing in Spain.
Ferrari is now facing a delicate situation as the season enters a crucial phase. Leclerc’s podium finish in Barcelona has pushed him 23 points clear of Hamilton in the driver standings, and the team is determined to keep both drivers in the title hunt. Ensuring that Hamilton’s car is fully optimized and identifying the root cause of his Spanish GP struggles has become a top priority.
The internal review will likely cover every aspect of Hamilton’s weekend—from car setup and tyre strategy to telemetry data and mechanical integrity. Ferrari cannot afford to have such disparities between its two drivers if it wants to maintain its momentum and challenge for top honors in both championships.
As the paddock prepares for the next round, all eyes will be on Ferrari’s findings. Whether Hamilton’s issues were mechanical, strategic, or perhaps even psychological, resolving them quickly will be essential if the veteran Briton hopes to reassert himself in the intra-team battle—and silence growing questions about his form.
