Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton Despondent After Struggling in Bahrain F1 Qualifying
Manama, Bahrain – April 12, 2025 — Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut qualifying session with Ferrari turned out to be a bitter disappointment, as the seven-time world champion failed to challenge for the front rows during Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session.
The former Mercedes star, who made headlines by switching to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, was visibly dejected after placing only 11th on the grid, missing out on Q3 in what was expected to be a strong weekend for the Italian team.
Hamilton, who had shown promising pace during Friday’s practice sessions, was left scratching his head as he struggled with the car’s balance throughout the crucial qualifying hour under the floodlights of the Bahrain International Circuit. While teammate Charles Leclerc managed to secure fourth on the grid, Hamilton was caught out by traffic and setup issues that saw him knocked out in Q2.
“It was a tough day,” Hamilton admitted during post-qualifying interviews. “The car just wasn’t behaving the way we expected it to. The rear felt unstable, and we couldn’t get the tyres into the right window. I gave it everything, but it wasn’t enough today.”
Hamilton’s downbeat mood reflected both his personal frustration and the weight of expectations surrounding his move to Ferrari. The Briton, 40, joined the Scuderia with hopes of rejuvenating the iconic team’s championship prospects and claiming what would be a record-breaking eighth world title. But his performance in Bahrain offered a sobering reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
“It’s not how I wanted my first qualifying in red to go, that’s for sure,” Hamilton continued. “But this is a long season, and we’ve got to stay focused. There’s definitely potential in the car — we just need to unlock it.”
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur also expressed disappointment, but emphasized that it was only the first round of a 24-race season.
“Of course, P11 isn’t where we want Lewis to be,” Vasseur told reporters. “But we’ve seen this before in Bahrain — conditions change quickly, and sometimes you get caught out. The important thing is that we understand what happened and come back stronger tomorrow.”
Ferrari had entered the weekend optimistic, bolstered by winter testing data that suggested a leap forward in performance and drivability. But Hamilton’s qualifying woes have cast some doubt on whether Ferrari has truly bridged the gap to Red Bull, whose reigning world champion Max Verstappen claimed pole with a commanding lap.
The British driver’s misfortune also sparked concern on social media, where fans expressed sympathy for Hamilton but questioned Ferrari’s strategic decisions.
“I’m not sure what went wrong today,” one fan tweeted. “But Ferrari needs to sort it fast — they can’t waste Hamilton’s talent like this.”
Despite the setback, Hamilton remained determined to salvage points in Sunday’s race, which begins at 6 p.m. local time. With overtaking opportunities available at the Bahrain circuit, Hamilton said he was confident he could climb through the field.
“I’ll give it everything tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve had worse Saturdays and come back strong on Sundays. The race pace looked solid in practice, so fingers crossed we can make up some ground.”
Hamilton’s Ferrari debut has undoubtedly drawn more attention than any driver move in recent F1 memory. With millions of fans worldwide tuning in to see him in the iconic scarlet red, the pressure is immense — and today’s result may have heightened the scrutiny.
Still, few would write off a driver of Hamilton’s caliber just yet. With his experience, grit, and relentless drive to succeed, he remains one of the sport’s fiercest competitors — and Bahrain might only be a temporary stumble in what could become a triumphant new chapter.
