Lewis Hamilton Blamed for ‘Indefensible’ Mistake at the Brazilian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has come under heavy criticism in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Italian media calling his performance “indefensible” following a series of costly on-track errors that ended in retirement for both Ferrari drivers.
The seven-time world champion endured a nightmare weekend at Interlagos, where a combination of poor qualifying, first-lap chaos, and two separate collisions left Ferrari’s race hopes in tatters. Hamilton first made contact with Carlos Sainz at Turn 1 shortly after the lights went out, before later colliding with Franco Colapinto in an ambitious overtaking attempt that destroyed his front wing and ultimately forced him to retire from the race.
The damage from those incidents was extensive — Hamilton’s SF-25 suffered not only front wing destruction but also floor damage, severely impacting the car’s performance. Ferrari’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Charles Leclerc was also eliminated on the opening lap following a separate incident at Turn 1, leaving the team with a disastrous double DNF.
With no points scored in São Paulo, Ferrari’s position in the Constructors’ Championship took a major hit. The Scuderia have now slipped to fourth place behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren, while both rival teams capitalized on Ferrari’s misfortune. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took yet another victory to extend his dominance, while young Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli celebrated a well-earned podium finish that underscored his rapid rise in Formula 1.
Italian Media Reaction: “Indefensible Mistake”
The Italian press did not hold back in their post-race reviews. Corriere della Sera, one of Italy’s most respected newspapers, delivered a particularly harsh verdict on Hamilton’s performance, rating him just five out of ten and describing his mistakes as “indefensible.”
In their analysis, the publication wrote:
“He’s once again at the stewards, who are beating him — a five-second penalty he served before retiring, so as not to carry it over to the next Grand Prix — because of the crash into Colapinto (which he emerged from with a ruined front wing), rather than Sainz, who hits him at the start, ruining a race that had already been compromised by his poor qualifying.”
They continued by suggesting that while Hamilton may have had some justification regarding the Turn 1 contact with Sainz, his later clash with Colapinto was entirely his fault.
“Lewis may be partially right, but the mistake on the Argentine makes him indefensible: his first season in red is about to end in a ‘red hole’ and with a fair amount of doubt,” the newspaper concluded.
The commentary reflects growing frustration within Italian media circles over Hamilton’s form since joining Ferrari. Despite showing flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, his campaign has been plagued by inconsistency, incidents, and unforced errors that have left fans and pundits questioning whether the partnership has lived up to expectations.
Ferrari President John Elkann Responds
Adding further fuel to the fire, Ferrari president John Elkann made strong comments after the race, openly criticizing both of his drivers for the team’s lackluster results in recent weeks.
“We have drivers who need to focus more and talk less, because we still have important races to come,” Elkann told the media. “Finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship isn’t impossible, but it will require full concentration and fewer mistakes.”
His remarks have been widely interpreted as a direct warning to both Hamilton and Leclerc, emphasizing the team’s growing impatience with costly driver errors and public comments that may distract from on-track performance.
A Season of Struggles
Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari was always going to be one of transition, but expectations were high that the move would reignite both his career and Ferrari’s championship ambitions. Instead, the partnership has so far yielded frustration. Mechanical issues, strategic missteps, and driver errors have left the Scuderia chasing consistency while Red Bull and Mercedes pull ahead.
As the 2025 season draws to a close, Hamilton faces immense pressure to deliver a strong finish and silence his critics. With only a few races left, the British star will be desperate to prove that his Ferrari chapter can still turn around — before the “red hole,” as the Italian media put it, swallows the team’s hopes for good.
