Lewis Hamilton’s Disqualification Highlights Mercedes’ Fortunate Escape in Bahrain……… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut season with Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 championship hasn’t lived up to expectations so far. The seven-time world champion, who made the switch from Mercedes to the iconic Italian team at the end of 2024, has faced a string of challenging races early in the season.
After the first four rounds of the 2025 campaign, Hamilton has managed to secure only 25 points, placing him seventh in the drivers’ championship standings. Interestingly, he trails behind his successor at Mercedes, Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, who has made an impressive start to his F1 career. Antonelli, alongside teammate George Russell, has helped Mercedes maintain solid form despite Hamilton’s departure.
Hamilton’s most dramatic race weekend of the season so far took place in China at the second round. It was a weekend of mixed emotions, as he claimed victory in the Saturday sprint race—his first for Ferrari. However, his celebrations were short-lived. On Sunday, Hamilton was disqualified from the main Grand Prix due to a technical infringement discovered during post-race scrutineering. The incident highlighted ongoing struggles for the Ferrari team in adapting to the new regulations and maximizing performance.
Meanwhile, at the most recent Grand Prix in Bahrain, Mercedes had a close call of their own. George Russell, who has taken on a more senior role at the team following Hamilton’s exit, narrowly avoided a disqualification similar to Hamilton’s infamous 2021 incident, when he was stripped of a podium finish due to excessive plank wear. Though Russell ultimately retained his points from Bahrain, the situation raised eyebrows and hinted that Mercedes may have been fortunate to escape harsher consequences.
Kimi Antonelli has been a bright spot for Mercedes, consistently finishing in the points and demonstrating composure and talent well beyond his years. His performances have not only validated Mercedes’ decision to promote him but have also helped ease the pressure of replacing a legend like Hamilton.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Hamilton to see whether he can bounce back and deliver the results Ferrari and their fans have been hoping for. Equally, Mercedes will be looking to tighten up their operations to avoid any further technical mishaps. The early rounds of the 2025 season have already proven that while experience counts, the new generation is more than ready to challenge the old guard—and that even the biggest teams aren’t immune to costl
y mistakes.
