Hamilton after Barcelona disaster: Having a really bad day!”

Hamilton after Barcelona disaster: Having a really bad day!”

Lewis Hamilton was extremely self-critical after the Spanish GP in Barcelona. In a race that had both ups and downs for the experienced driver, Hamilton only achieved fifth place in qualifying and lost out in the race. After he was temporarily in fourth place, he finally fell back to sixth place because he was overtaken by Nico Hülkenberg towards the end of the race. Hamilton said in the interview that he had a “really bad day” and felt at a loss. He suspects that the problems are “just me,” which underlines his own desperation.

The Mercedes driver's performance contrasted with the good run of his teammate George Russell, whom Hamilton was able to overtake at the beginning, but later lost pace himself. Nico Hulkenberg impressed with a comeback, moving from 15th to fifth, his best result since 2019. Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur commented on Hamilton's race by noting that he was ahead of Russell for 70% of the race, further highlighting his car's problematic balance towards the end.

Ferrari's success and Hamilton's challenges

Ferrari was able to secure third place in the Spanish GP with Charles Leclerc, which is considered a great success. Leclerc was faster than Hamilton in qualifying and was able to sacrifice a set of tires through a strategic decision. In the race he took third place behind the two McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Vasseur explained that Leclerc's podium finish was also partly down to luck, particularly during the safety car period. He also noted that the changes to the tire strategy and the weather conditions were crucial factors for the success.

Hamilton's race, on the other hand, was characterized by poor vehicle balance. Vasseur confirmed that Hamilton was doing well until his last set of tires, but the difference in tire performance was becoming noticeable. In the overall drivers' standings, Hamilton is now 23 points behind his teammate Leclerc, which further increases the challenges for the Brit at Ferrari. After nine of 24 Grands Prix, Hamilton is fifth in the drivers' championship with 71 points, while McLaren drivers Piastri and Norris are at the top with 186 and 176 points.

Overall balance and outlook

Hamilton has achieved a total of seven world championship titles and 105 victories in 363 Grand Prix starts. Despite his impressive career, the pressure on him remains high, especially in the current season. The rumors of a possible career end accompany him as the team strives to keep up with the current vehicle balance and performance of the competition. Ferrari is currently in second place in the constructors' championship, but still has a long way to go to catch up with the leading McLaren drivers.

Further information about Hamilton's achievements to date is documented in his treasure trove of statistics, which trace his career from the beginning to the present day. How the situation will develop in the coming races remains to be seen, but the challenges facing Hamilton are clear. With new strategies and adjustments, Ferrari hopes to overcome the weaknesses and fully realize the team's potential.

Further details about the events of the Spanish GP and the current situation in Formula 1 can be found here laola1.at, speedweek.com and formula1.de.