Breaking: Lewis Hamilton suffer Ferrari Huge Damage after…read more

Lewis Hamilton suffer Ferrari Huge Damage after…read more

Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated first competitive appearance in a Ferrari on home soil at Imola turned out to be far from the triumphant showcase many had hoped for. Saturday’s final practice session (FP3) for the 2025 Imola Grand Prix was expected to reinforce the optimism surrounding the seven-time world champion’s partnership with the Scuderia. Instead, it highlighted early challenges and misfortune as Hamilton could only manage a disappointing tenth place finish, having sustained damage to his SF25.

The session was progressing uneventfully until midway through, when Hamilton’s voice crackled over team radio, conveying frustration and concern. “Guys, I’ve got floor damage—I ran wide out of Rivazza,” he reported. Just moments before, he had misjudged the exit at Turn 18, briefly running off-line and bouncing across the kerbs. The off-track excursion resulted in damage to the car’s floor, specifically the flow-conditioning strakes, which are crucial for aerodynamic performance.

In modern Formula 1, particularly on a technical track like Imola, where every fraction of a second counts, such damage can have serious consequences. The strakes underneath the car are responsible for managing airflow efficiently, helping to generate the downforce needed to maintain grip and stability through corners. Without them functioning optimally, Hamilton’s Ferrari lost valuable aerodynamic efficiency, leading to reduced performance and increased drag on the straights.

Following the incident, Ferrari’s mechanics quickly brought the car back into the garage for assessment. However, with parc fermé regulations soon to take effect—rules that limit the extent of modifications teams can make to the cars between qualifying and the race—there was little opportunity for a comprehensive repair. The team was only able to carry out minor fixes, meaning Hamilton would have to head into qualifying with a compromised setup.

This development added pressure to what was supposed to be a morale-boosting weekend for both Hamilton and Ferrari. The Imola round was viewed as a symbolic milestone: a legendary driver competing in the iconic red suit in front of an adoring Italian crowd, striving to bring Ferrari back to championship-winning ways. Instead, the practice mishap served as a reminder of how small errors can have significant ramifications in Formula 1.

While Hamilton is known for his resilience and ability to extract performance in adversity, starting from a lower grid position on a circuit that is notoriously difficult for overtaking presents a steep challenge. As qualifying looms, both Hamilton and Ferrari must regroup quickly and find a way to salvage momentum from a session that did not go according to plan.