Lewis Hamilton has described his first season with Ferrari as “a nightmare” after a disastrous Sao Paulo Grand Prix saw him retire for the fifth time this season. The seven-time world champion’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was billed as one of the most dramatic moves in Formula 1 history — but so far, the dream partnership has failed to deliver.
Hamilton’s race in Brazil unravelled almost immediately. Starting mid-grid after a tricky qualifying session, he was clipped by the Williams of Carlos Sainz in the opening lap, sending his Ferrari bouncing over the kerbs. Then, in his eagerness to recover positions, he misjudged a move on Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at the start of lap two, damaging his front wing.
Ferrari quickly replaced the wing during an early pit stop, but the incident left Hamilton’s car with floor damage that crippled his pace. Struggling at the back of the field, he was later handed a five-second penalty for causing the collision with Colapinto. By lap 39, his team called him into the pits to retire the car, ending a miserable afternoon.
“A Nightmare to Live Through”
After the race, Hamilton didn’t hold back when speaking to Sky Sports. “This is a nightmare, and I have been living it for a while,” he said. “The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and the nightmare of the results we have had — the ups and downs — it’s challenging.”
Since joining Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season, Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium in a Grand Prix, despite showing glimpses of pace. His only highlight came in March when he dominated the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. But in full-length races, Ferrari’s inconsistency and reliability issues have left him frustrated.
Hamilton currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings, far adrift of championship leader Lando Norris. His teammate Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, has faced his own struggles, compounding Ferrari’s woes.
Double Retirement Adds to Ferrari’s Woes
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix marked another dark day for the Scuderia. Leclerc retired earlier in the race after a chaotic incident involving Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Antonelli was clipped by Piastri and slid into Leclerc’s path, breaking the Monegasque’s front suspension and ending his race on lap 10.
The double retirement left Ferrari empty-handed and fourth in the constructors’ standings, with Mercedes extending their advantage in second place to 36 points. Red Bull, who have also had an uneven season by their own standards, remain third.
For Ferrari, who entered the season with renewed hope under new team principal Enrico Cardile, the result was another setback in what has been an increasingly difficult campaign.
Hamilton Still Hopeful
Despite his disappointment, Hamilton struck a more reflective tone when speaking later to Viaplay. “It would be wrong to say there are no positives at all,” he said. “If you look at Charles’ performance in qualifying, it shows the car does have some pace in it.
“But we are having to fight through a lot of hardships at the moment. I have to believe these challenges are part of a bigger story. I believe there is something extraordinary up ahead — for me and for this team.”
Hamilton added that he remains fully committed to helping Ferrari return to the front of the grid. “I still believe in this team and what we can achieve together,” he said. “I just have to keep pushing and give them everything I can.”
A Season to Forget — or a Turning Point?
Hamilton’s words reflect both frustration and faith. While his move to Ferrari has yet to yield success, history has shown that the British driver thrives in adversity. With three races remaining in the 2025 season, he and Ferrari have limited time to salvage pride — but a strong finish could provide a foundation for a more competitive 2026.
For now, though, the fairytale has turned sour. Ferrari’s passionate fans, who had dreamed of seeing Hamilton in red fighting for wins, have instead witnessed one of the toughest seasons of his illustrious career.
As the curtain nears its close on 2025, Hamilton’s “nightmare” debut season at Ferrari stands as a reminder that even legends can struggle when the machinery — and luck — desert them.
