Lewis Hamilton described his performance at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix as a “zero” positive after finishing sixth. The seven-time world champion had hoped for a podium finish at Ferrari’s first race in Barcelona, having qualified fifth, his best starting position. However, his race was disappointing.
Hamilton initially moved up to fourth place after overtaking Mercedes teammate George Russell but was instructed to swap positions with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. During the safety car restart, Hamilton was sixth but soon lost ground, being overtaken by Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg near the race’s end, making for a tough afternoon.
Although Hamilton originally crossed the line seventh, he was promoted to sixth after Max Verstappen received a 10-second penalty. Not feeling well and not in the mood for extensive comments, Hamilton gave brief answers to the media, saying he struggled with rear grip on the wide track. When asked if the Ferrari felt better at any point, he simply replied, “No, I don’t know why it’s so bad.” Calling it the worst race he’s had, Hamilton admitted he could take “zero” positives from the event and said he was heading "home" next.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur revealed after the race that Hamilton’s car had problems during the final stint before the safety car period, which negatively affected his results. While Hamilton stayed ahead of Russell for 45 laps, Vasseur declined to provide specific details about the car issue.
Fan Take: This challenging race for Hamilton is a significant moment, highlighting that even top drivers and teams can face unexpected struggles. It sets the stage for an intense battle ahead as Ferrari and Mercedes seek to improve performance and bring more excitement to the championship.
