Ferrari Issues Strong Verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish GP Struggles

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed Lewis Hamilton’s frustration after the Spanish Grand Prix, offering a measured response to what many described as a difficult weekend for the seven-time World Champion. Hamilton started the race from fifth position, hoping to contend for a podium finish at the Circuit de Catalunya on June 1.

Despite his strong starting spot, he crossed the line in seventh place after losing out to Nico Hulkenberg late in the race following a safety car period.

A post-race penalty for Max Verstappen moved Hamilton up to sixth, but he remained disheartened, describing his race as “zero positives” and admitting he had “no idea” why the Ferrari SF-25 struggled so much with pace.

Vasseur challenged the suggestion that Hamilton’s Spanish Grand Prix was a disaster. He said, “You are experienced enough not to draw conclusions after the first words of the driver.”

He noted that if people wanted to cause panic, they could, but insisted, “It is not the case.” According to Vasseur, Hamilton spent approximately 70% of the race ahead of his teammate George Russell, showcasing that the pace was not as poor as the results suggested.

Vasseur explained that an unidentified issue affected Hamilton’s car during the final stint before the safety car, which he saw as a major factor in the result.

When pressed about the technical problem, Vasseur did not share specifics.

Despite the lack of public details, his comments suggested that Ferrari is closely analyzing the data to understand the cause. The team had aimed to make gains at Barcelona, especially with both drivers joining the factory for debriefs after each session, but were left searching for answers after Charles Leclerc and Hamilton both fell short of a top-five finish.

Hamilton’s remarks following the race pointed to a deeper concern with the performance and reliability of the car, particularly in challenging conditions.

After the race weekend, the drivers’ championship standings showed Hamilton in sixth place with 71 points.

Teammate Charles Leclerc was two positions ahead, ranked fifth with 94 points. McLaren led the teams’ standings with 362 points after strong results from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, while Ferrari sat second at 165 points.

Mercedes, featuring George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli, trailed closely behind on 159 points. Red Bull, impacted by penalties and inconsistent form, held fourth with 144 points.

The Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya was a critical round in the 2025 F1 season, giving teams another set of data before the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 15.

Both Ferrari and Hamilton are looking for improvements in upcoming races, aiming to unlock better performance and address lingering setup issues.

As the season continues, focus remains on development work at Maranello and refining strategies to help Hamilton and Leclerc challenge for higher positions in the coming rounds.

Recent discussions about the Monaco GP changes have also highlighted how teams are adapting their approaches across different circuits.