Lewis Hamilton’s campaign at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix ended in frustration as the seven-time world champion was forced to retire amid Ferrari’s disastrous double DNF at Interlagos. The British driver’s race unraveled within moments of the start after a first-lap collision with Carlos Sainz’s Williams, followed by contact with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. The incident inflicted severe front-wing and floor damage on Hamilton’s Ferrari, compelling an early pit stop that set the tone for an arduous afternoon.
Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz detailed the extent of the damage, emphasizing that Hamilton’s Ferrari was “slower than a slow thing,” as the car’s aerodynamic integrity had been heavily compromised. Despite attempts to regain rhythm, the vehicle’s instability worsened, prompting Hamilton’s grim radio message: “Mate, I’m going to crash out here… The car is crazy unstable.” His persistence earned little reward, as the handling issues rendered the Ferrari virtually undrivable even after multiple pit stops.
The stewards reviewed Hamilton’s early collisions and ruled no further action against the Sainz incident, though a five-second penalty was issued for contact with Colapinto. By the seventeenth lap, Hamilton had fallen to seventeenth position, his race pace crippled by floor damage and deteriorating balance. The mounting struggles eventually led to his retirement, compounding Ferrari’s misfortunes following Charles Leclerc’s earlier exit after a multi-car collision with Oscar Piastri and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The weekend’s failures proved costly for Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship battle. Mercedes capitalized with a strong sprint showing, overtaking Ferrari to claim second place behind McLaren. As the 2025 season nears its close, Ferrari’s once-promising campaign now teeters under the weight of inconsistency and mechanical fragility, leaving the team scrambling to salvage pride in the final four rounds.
Hamilton’s mood reflected the broader despair within Maranello. Following a lackluster qualifying, he confessed to reporters, “I’m not expecting anything, to be honest. It’s another write-off weekend.” His words now ring prophetic — a somber reflection of Ferrari’s ongoing decline and the growing uncertainty surrounding Hamilton’s future with the Scuderia as his struggles continue to deepen.
