JUST IN :Ferrari to launch Lewis Hamilton investigation after performance drop…Read more

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Ferrari Launches Internal Review After Hamilton’s Struggles at Spanish Grand Prix

Ferrari is set to launch an internal investigation into Lewis Hamilton’s underwhelming performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, after the seven-time world champion described the weekend as one of the worst of his career in terms of car balance.

Despite out-qualifying team-mate Charles Leclerc on Saturday, Hamilton struggled for race pace on Sunday and was forced to let Leclerc pass him on lap 10, citing a lack of grip and general balance issues. The 40-year-old appeared visibly frustrated over team radio and after the race, admitting that he had no clear understanding of what caused the performance deficit.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed after the race that Hamilton’s car had experienced an issue before the deployment of the safety car, though he declined to reveal the nature of the problem. Vasseur acknowledged the team’s confusion and emphasized the need to analyze the data thoroughly to identify the root cause of the poor showing.

“We had something going on with the car before the safety car, and we’re going to investigate that in detail,” Vasseur told Sky Sports. “At the moment, it’s too early to say anything with certainty. But clearly, it impacted Lewis’s performance.”

Hamilton’s race performance has triggered speculation within the Formula 1 community. Some pundits, including former Mercedes team-mate and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, have pointed to Hamilton’s age as a possible factor in his struggles, suggesting that the veteran may be past his prime in comparison to the younger, sharper Leclerc.

The Spaniard’s GP marked a continuation of a trend that has seen Leclerc consistently outperform Hamilton in race conditions this season. Although Hamilton has shown flashes of his legendary speed during qualifying sessions, he has often fallen behind in race execution, leaving Ferrari with a conundrum about how to extract consistent performance from their newest recruit.

Hamilton, however, maintained a professional tone in his post-race comments, simply labeling the event as a “terrible” weekend and noting it was the “worst race [he’d] had balance-wise.” With no obvious explanation at hand, he deferred to the team’s technical staff for answers.

The result in Spain saw Hamilton fall 23 points behind Leclerc in the drivers’ standings, further complicating his championship aspirations. With a brief break in the F1 calendar before the next race, Ferrari will use the time to conduct a detailed examination of Hamilton’s car and setup to determine whether a mechanical fault, a setup miscalculation, or other variables contributed to the unexpected drop-off.

For now, Ferrari and Hamilton are left with more questions than answers, and the upcoming races could prove pivotal in determining whether the British legend can find his footing—or whether his 2025 campaign is in jeopardy.

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