Lewis Hamilton slammed by Italian After Disappointing Sp....

Lewis Hamilton slammed by Italian After Disappointing Sp…. read more

Lewis Hamilton’s struggles with Ferrari continued at the Spanish Grand Prix, where his performance came under heavy criticism from the Italian press. While his teammate Charles Leclerc celebrated his second consecutive podium finish, Hamilton endured another frustrating race weekend, ultimately crossing the line in sixth place.

The seven-time world champion’s woes began early in the race when he was ordered by the Ferrari team to allow Leclerc to pass him on lap 10. The team deemed Leclerc the faster driver at that point, a decision that further emphasised Hamilton’s diminishing influence within the team. The situation worsened later in the race when Hamilton was overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber — a car from a team previously considered the weakest on the grid.

Following the race, the Italian media, particularly La Gazzetta dello Sport, were scathing in their assessment of Hamilton’s performance. In their driver ratings, Hamilton was awarded a modest score of 5.5. The newspaper highlighted the embarrassing nature of being passed by a Sauber, commenting: “Not an unforgettable race. He starts well, but after a few laps has to give the position to the faster Leclerc, always a snub. Then a Sauber passes him at the end. Not nice.”

In contrast, Leclerc received glowing praise from the Italian press, earning a 7.5 rating and being described as “a fighter” who delivered a spirited drive. Despite a poor qualifying session, Leclerc was commended for his aggressive and determined performance that resulted in a well-earned third-place finish. The publication lauded him as “the face of Ferrari that does not give up,” a title that underscores his growing stature within the team and highlights the shift in public perception away from Hamilton.

Hamilton, visibly dejected after the race, expressed his frustration during a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, stating, “I just had a really bad day and I’ve got nothing to say. It was a difficult day, there’s nothing else to add to it, it’s terrible.”

Despite winning the Chinese sprint race earlier in the season — Ferrari’s only win of 2025 so far — Hamilton has only finished ahead of Leclerc once, at Imola. As Leclerc continues to grow in confidence with the SF-25, Hamilton’s lack of consistency is drawing increased scrutiny. With Italian media turning critical, pressure is mounting on Hamilton to reverse his form and reassert his place in the Fer

rari setup.