Lewis Hamilton’s turbulent debut season with Ferrari hit another low on Sunday as the seven-time world champion was forced to retire from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a chaotic start.
The Briton’s race unraveled within the opening laps when his Ferrari was struck by the Williams of Carlos Sainz on the first lap. Moments later, Hamilton attempted to overtake Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at the start of lap two but misjudged the move, damaging his front wing.
He pitted for repairs, but his Ferrari suffered floor damage that severely affected its performance. Struggling for pace, Hamilton later received a five-second penalty for the collision with Colapinto. Running last, he eventually retired on lap 39, ending another frustrating weekend.
“This is a nightmare, and I have been living it for a while,” Hamilton told Sky Sports after the race. “The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and the nightmare of the results we have had—it’s challenging.”
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season after a long and successful career with Mercedes, has yet to secure a podium finish for the Italian team. His only major highlight came with a sprint race victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in March. He currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was equally disappointing for Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who retired earlier after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The contact, triggered by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, broke Leclerc’s front suspension and ended Ferrari’s hopes of scoring points.
With both Ferraris out, the team slipped to fourth in the constructors’ championship. Mercedes extended their advantage to 36 points in second, while Red Bull maintained third place.
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton maintained a sense of optimism in an interview with Viaplay, highlighting that the car still showed potential. “If you look at Charles’ performance in qualifying, it shows that the car does have some pace,” he said.
“But we are just really having to fight through those hardships at the moment,” Hamilton continued. “I believe there is something extraordinary up ahead in my life and in my destiny. I truly still believe in this team and what we can achieve together.”
Ferrari now faces mounting pressure to recover its form as the Formula 1 season nears its final rounds. For Hamilton, the Sao Paulo weekend may have been one of his toughest yet, but the British driver remains determined to turn his “nightmare” into a dream comeback.
