Hamilton's Ferrari Nightmare Continues in Qatar Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton's difficult debut season with Ferrari reached a new low on Saturday as the seven-time world champion qualified a dismal 18th for Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix. The 40-year-old British driver suffered his third consecutive elimination in the first qualifying session, continuing a wretched run of form that has seen him fail to secure a single podium finish in Ferrari red.
Technical Troubles: Hamilton's Detailed Car Analysis
In stark contrast to his previous reserved comments, Hamilton provided a comprehensive technical breakdown of the problems plaguing his SF-25 machine. The Mercedes-bound driver described a car lacking stability with multiple handling issues affecting performance across different speed ranges.
"We just don't have any stability - when I say that, the rear end is not planted, so it's sliding, snapping a lot," Hamilton explained. "Then we have bouncing, so when you're going into corners like turn 10, the thing starts bouncing, we have a lot of mid-corner understeer and then you apply the steering and then it snaps and you try and catch it."
He emphasised the car's inconsistent behaviour, noting: "It's different between low, medium and high... and it's a fight like you can't believe."
Team Struggles and Championship Implications
The qualifying session proved challenging for the entire Ferrari team, with Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc managing only 10th on the grid. Hamilton currently sits sixth in the championship standings and faces the prospect of his first season without a top-three finish as the campaign concludes with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Adding to Hamilton's frustrations, his replacement at Mercedes - teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli - now trails him by just 12 points in the standings. The British driver had previously described this season as "the worst season ever" following his struggles in Las Vegas, where he qualified last and was eliminated in Q1.
Despite reporting that the car felt "better" after qualifying, Hamilton appeared lost for words when asked to address Ferrari's loyal fanbase. "I don't really have a message right now... I'm sorry," he stated. "But I'm incredibly grateful for the support that I've had all year. I mean, I wouldn't have made it through this year without them."
The qualifying session saw McLaren's Oscar Piastri secure pole position, with title contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen lining up behind him. Norris has the opportunity to claim his maiden championship victory if he wins Sunday's grand prix at the Lusail International Circuit.
