Lewis Hamilton left “devastated” and “gutted” after a shocking double Ferrari Q2 exit at Imola, where both he and teammate Charles Leclerc failed to make it into the top 10 for the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The Ferrari nightmare continues as Hamilton expressed his disappointment at the team’s struggle on home turf, highlighting the limitations of the SF-25 over one lap.
Hamilton, who faced a premature exit in Miami as well, voiced his frustration, stating, “I feel devastated, I feel gutted, I guess, because the car was generally feeling okay.” Despite feeling confident with the car’s setup and performance, Hamilton was unable to match the pace of his competitors, especially Max Verstappen, around certain corners.
The Mercedes driver was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events in Q2, where he believed they had the pace to advance. Hamilton emphasized the need for upgrades to bridge the performance gap, acknowledging Ferrari’s reliance on improvements to be competitive. He pointed out the deficit in speed compared to McLaren and stressed the importance of pushing the car to its limits.
With qualifying behind Leclerc for the sixth time in seven races, Hamilton expressed the need for continuous development to reach the desired level of competitiveness. He highlighted the challenges of overtaking at Imola but remained hopeful about the team’s race pace, indicating a potential for a strong performance in the Grand Prix.
As Ferrari acknowledges design mistakes with its 2025 car, Hamilton’s disappointment reflects the team’s ongoing struggle to keep up with their rivals. The pressure is on for Ferrari to deliver upgrades and improvements to salvage their season and give their drivers a fighting chance on the track.
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains determined to push forward and make the most of the race, relying on strategy and performance to make up for the qualifying disappointment. The stage is set for an intense battle at Imola as Ferrari faces an uphill battle to redeem themselves and prove their worth in the competitive world of Formula 1.
