In a stark display of frustration, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton described Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix as “the worst race I’ve experienced” after a disheartening sixth-place finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The Ferrari driver’s dejected mood reflected a challenging race marked by pace struggles, strategic setbacks, and a late drop in position, underscoring a difficult weekend for the British racing icon.
Hamilton’s race began promisingly, as he capitalized on a strong start to overtake Mercedes’ George Russell at Turn 1, claiming fourth place from his starting position of sixth.
However, the early optimism quickly faded. By lap 10, Ferrari instructed Hamilton to yield to his faster teammate, Charles Leclerc, signaling early signs of pace deficiencies.
Through the pitstop cycles, Hamilton’s fortunes worsened, dropping to seventh behind both Mercedes cars.
Despite briefly regaining sixth place following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s late retirement, Hamilton’s woes continued as Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg overtook him on the penultimate lap along the start-finish straight, relegating him back to seventh.
A post-race 10-second penalty to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen allowed Hamilton to reclaim sixth, but the result offered little consolation.
Short Answers – Peak Frustration
In the media pen post-race, Hamilton’s brevity and curt responses painted a vivid picture of his disillusionment.
When asked about the challenges of the race, particularly being stuck on used tyres and feeling like a “sitting duck,” Hamilton sharply rebuffed the notion, stating, “Everyone was on the same tyres.”
Queried about the car’s lack of pace and reports of no rear grip from early in the race, he responded tersely, “It naturally is.”
An attempt to probe deeper, referencing Hamilton’s vast experience, was met with a blunt dismissal: “I have no idea why you’d say that.”
The exchange culminated in Hamilton’s damning assessment of his afternoon: “It’s the worst race I’ve experienced.”
Leclerc’s Joy, Hamilton’s Contrast
The gloom around Hamilton was in stark contrast to the mood at the other side of the Ferrari garage. Charles Leclerc, who started seventh, secured a surprise podium after overtaking Max Verstappen following a late-race safety car.
While the Monegasque was far from jubilant, he acknowledged the result exceeded expectations.
“It’s not like I'm over the moon for a second or third place,” Leclerc said.
“But it still feels good because coming to the weekend, I did not expect that. In Monaco, the disappointment was big because in FP1, FP2, FP3, we were very strong. It was not the case here, so we weren't strong in FP1, FP2, FP3 or qualifying.”
Read also:
Leclerc not expecting podium finish: 'Today was the lucky side'Leclerc noted that his strategy to prioritize race pace over qualifying performance paid off in the end.
“But I knew I had sacrificed quality yesterday in order to be strong in the race today, and it seems to pay off with a little bit of luck as well giving us the podium. So on that, it's a good surprise.”
“And I'm very happy about our weekend, but I'm not happy about our overall performance. And on that, we need to do a step soon.”
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