Lewis Hamilton expresses deep sympathy as Ferrari’s struggles continue amid team ban confirmation
Lewis Hamilton has once again demonstrated his trademark empathy, this time turning his concern toward every member of the Ferrari team — even those far from the pit wall — as the Italian squad endures another painful chapter in their 2025 Formula 1 campaign.
After a disappointing performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished sixth and eighth respectively, Ferrari’s hopes of closing the gap in the Constructors’ Championship suffered another blow. To make matters worse, Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, which pushed him further down the order. Meanwhile, their rivals Mercedes and Red Bull surged ahead, with George Russell and Max Verstappen finishing first and second. The result saw Mercedes extend their lead over Ferrari by 27 points, while Red Bull closed to within just eight points of overtaking the Scuderia for third place in the standings.
Speaking after the race, Hamilton was visibly emotional as he reflected on the ongoing challenges faced by Ferrari in 2025. Despite being one of the most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1, the seven-time world champion has found himself in a frustrating position this season, struggling to extract performance from a car that simply cannot compete with the front-runners.
“I feel pain for all the team — from catering to marketing, to the guys in the garage and the engineers who show up every weekend,” Hamilton told reporters. “They really do give absolutely everything, but the car we have is unfortunately not on the level of the guys ahead of us. Particularly now, as they’ve had some upgrades and we just can’t match them. We’re on a knife-edge trying to get as close as we can.”
Hamilton’s comments come amid growing pressure within the Ferrari camp, especially as rivals have continued to evolve their cars throughout the season. Red Bull introduced a revised floor design during the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and followed it up with a new front wing in Singapore — both of which have contributed to significant performance gains. Mercedes have also found consistency with their latest aerodynamic package.
Ferrari, however, appear to have run out of development options. Reports from Maranello suggest that there are no further upgrades planned for the remainder of the 2025 season, meaning the team will have to rely on setup optimizations and strategy to compete with their rivals in the closing rounds.
To add to their woes, Ferrari recently faced an internal setback as team officials confirmed a minor operational ban that affected certain logistical aspects of their race preparation. While details remain limited, it is believed to have temporarily impacted support staff operations during race weekends — further complicating the team’s already difficult situation.
As the season enters its final stretch, Ferrari’s hopes of reclaiming podium finishes seem slim unless drastic improvements are found. For Hamilton, however, the motivation remains unchanged. His message of solidarity underlines a deep respect for the people behind the scenes — from mechanics to cooks — who, despite the setbacks, continue to dedicate themselves to the team’s cause.
Whether Ferrari can recover and end the season on a high remains uncertain, but Hamilton’s heartfelt words remind fans and critics alike that behind every race result lies a team of hardworking individuals giving their all, even in the toughest of times.
