Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Deepen as He Suffers Another Early Exit in São Paulo Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton’s challenging debut season with Ferrari took another frustrating turn at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, as the seven-time world champion once again failed to make it into the final stage of qualifying. The Briton’s struggles at Interlagos continued when he was eliminated in Q2 for the second day in a row — a repeat of his disappointing performance in Friday’s sprint qualifying session.
Despite his best efforts behind the wheel of the SF-25, Hamilton could only manage the 13th fastest time in Q2, leaving him outside the top ten and well short of the performance expected from both him and Ferrari. It was a result that reflected the team’s inconsistent pace throughout the weekend, with balance and traction issues hampering Hamilton’s ability to extract full potential from the car.
Adding salt to the wound, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc comfortably advanced into Q3, highlighting the stark contrast between the two sides of the garage. Leclerc appeared far more at ease with his setup and was able to carry stronger momentum through the technical middle sector of the Interlagos circuit — a crucial area where Hamilton seemed to be losing valuable tenths.
This latest setback continues a worrying pattern for Hamilton, who has yet to find consistent form in his new Ferrari environment. The British driver, who made the high-profile switch from Mercedes at the end of 2024, has endured a turbulent run of results that has seen him frequently struggling to keep pace with the leading contenders. His qualifying difficulties in Brazil are just the latest chapter in a season marked by flashes of promise overshadowed by recurring frustration.
Still, there was a small silver lining for Hamilton. He did manage to outqualify both Red Bull drivers — Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda — who were shock eliminations in Q1. Verstappen’s exit, in particular, sent ripples through the paddock, as the reigning champion’s early departure from qualifying marked one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Dutchman appeared to be fighting major balance issues and was unable to recover enough pace to escape the bottom five.
While Ferrari’s mixed fortunes stole some headlines, Aston Martin also endured a difficult qualifying session. Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were eliminated in Q2, finishing 11th and 12th respectively. The outcome was surprising given the team’s promising performance during the sprint qualifying session the day before, when Alonso had secured fifth place and Stroll seventh. The sudden drop in pace left Aston Martin engineers scratching their heads, with grip issues and changing track conditions likely contributing to the disappointing results.
For Hamilton, however, the main concern remains Ferrari’s inability to deliver consistent qualifying pace. Despite encouraging updates brought to recent races, the car continues to struggle with temperature sensitivity and downforce in variable conditions — problems that have particularly plagued Hamilton’s sessions this weekend. The Briton appeared visibly frustrated after stepping out of the car, shaking his head as engineers gathered around to review the telemetry data.
Speaking briefly to the media afterward, Hamilton admitted that he was “pushing as hard as possible” but felt that “something just isn’t clicking yet.” He went on to express disappointment at not being able to reward the team’s efforts with a stronger grid position, saying:
> “It’s been a tough few sessions here in Brazil. The car feels good in some corners, but then we lose a lot in others. We’ve made changes, but the balance keeps shifting with the wind and track evolution. We just need to keep our heads down and see if we can make up some ground in the race.”
The São Paulo circuit has often been a venue of mixed emotions for Hamilton — a place of triumphs and heartbreaks alike. It was here in 2008 that he famously clinched his first world title in dramatic fashion, but it has also seen its fair share of struggles for him in recent years. Now, with Ferrari’s inconsistent form, the challenge of turning around his fortunes looks steeper than ever.
As race day approaches, Hamilton will start from the seventh row on the grid, facing a demanding task to fight his way into the points — let alone the podium. Ferrari, meanwhile, will rely heavily on Leclerc to deliver a strong performance from the upper half of the grid, as the team continues to chase much-needed championship points.
Hamilton’s latest setback serves as another reminder of how unpredictable the 2025 Formula 1 season has been. With Red Bull faltering, Aston Martin slipping, and Mercedes rebuilding, Ferrari had hoped to capitalize — but Hamilton’s ongoing difficulties underline just how complex that challenge has become. As things stand, the Briton’s quest for redemption in red remains an uphill battle, and Sunday’s race in São Paulo could prove decisive in determining whether his fortunes can finally begin to turn around.
