Dejected Lewis Hamilton Delivers Shocking Verdict on Spanish GP

Lewis Hamilton described the Spanish Grand Prix as “the worst experience” after a frustrating Sunday in Barcelona. The seven-time world champion started fifth, marking his joint-best qualifying result since joining Ferrari at the start of the season, but was unable to convert his strong grid position into a top finish.

Hoping for his first podium in red, Hamilton found himself lacking pace from the early laps and quickly came under team orders. During the opening stages of the race at Circuit de Catalunya, Ferrari instructed Hamilton to let Charles Leclerc pass after it became clear he was holding up his teammate.

Hamilton obeyed, but his struggles continued as his Ferrari SF-24 failed to match the race pace of its competitors. Even a late safety car — which usually offers drivers a chance to gain places — did little to help Hamilton’s situation.

Hamilton’s fortunes worsened after the race restart. He lost further ground, eventually being overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg of the Stake F1 Team.

The British driver, widely regarded as one of the sport’s best, appeared visibly disappointed after the checkered flag. When reporters asked him about the problems he faced, Hamilton was blunt in his response, admitting, “I have no idea why it was so bad. That was the worst experience balance-wise.”

He said there were no positives to take from his performance, calling it a race with “zero” good points. While Hamilton endured a grueling afternoon, his teammate Lando Norris delivered a strong result by finishing in third place.

Norris claimed his third podium in the 2025 Formula 1 season. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the driver standings with 186 points, followed by Norris at 176 and Max Verstappen with 137.

Hamilton currently holds sixth in the championship with 71 points for Ferrari, while Leclerc is ahead with 94. The atmosphere in Barcelona was tense, with several big stories making headlines, including Max Verstappen narrowly avoiding a race ban and ongoing team controversies.

However, for many fans, Hamilton’s struggles with Ferrari were among the biggest shocks of the race weekend. As Formula 1 looks ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15, Hamilton and his team will be searching for answers to their lack of speed and overall performance.

The Spanish Grand Prix result puts extra pressure on Ferrari to deliver improvements, especially with tough competition from both McLaren drivers and Red Bull’s continued threat.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.