Hamilton “devastated” after qualifying whilst F1 exit announced in German media

Last Updated on May 18 2025, 8:46 am

Home qualifying collapse raises more than a few eyebrows – When Ferrari were dealt a painful blow at their first home Grand Prix of the 2025 season at Imola, it wasn’t just the team’s lacklustre qualifying result that was cause for concern. Beneath the surface of frustration and underperformance, there are renewed retirement whispers about Lewis Hamilton’s long-term future in F1 in the media.

After another early qualifying exit, this time from Q2, the seven-time world champion looked more disheartened than ever. And with Ferrari’s performance failing to live up to expectations, the whispers in the paddock are only getting louder.

Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc both dropped out before Q3 on Saturday, finishing eleventh and twelfth respectively, with even the struggling Aston Martins outperforming them. Despite months of optimism surrounding Ferrari’s SF-25, the car once again showed that it lacks the raw pace to compete on Saturdays – especially at a track like Imola where overtaking is no easy task on Sundays.

But beyond the stopwatch and the strategy charts, the human story is beginning to take centre stage. Hamilton’s body language, coupled with the increasing bluntness of his post-race interviews, is fuelling persistent rumours that 2025 could be his last season in F1 – something former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher recently suggested in comments that are gaining traction.

 

Leclerc frustrated, but Hamilton’s tone tells a deeper story

After the qualifying disappointment, Leclerc sounded a familiar note of irritation. “The best we could have done today was eleventh and twelfth. That hurts,” he said. “You can always optimise a lap a bit more, but we’re just not competitive at the moment.”

His criticism of the SF-25 was scathing. “We just don’t have the performance in the car – and I keep saying it,” he said flatly. “We were hoping for more from this project, but it’s just not delivering.”

Hamilton, however, went further – not necessarily in words, but in sentiment. Where Leclerc was frustrated, Hamilton seemed flat, even defeated.

“I’m honestly extremely disappointed, devastated that we didn’t make it,” he said quietly.

“I really felt we made a lot of positive steps over the weekend. The car felt better all round. The brakes were better today, the balance was good. The first run in Q2 felt good. But when we changed tyres, there was suddenly no extra grip. We just couldn’t go any faster.”

It’s a familiar refrain from a driver who has spent two years waiting for a car that could reignite his championship hopes. When he signed for Ferrari, it was hailed as a masterstroke – a late-career move that could write the final heroic chapter in Hamilton’s F1 legacy. But with results like these, it’s starting to feel more like an epilogue.

 

Schumacher’s announcement resurfaces as Hamilton’s struggles continue

Just a week ago, Ralf Schumacher announced to the German media that he wouldn’t be surprised if Hamilton retired from the sport at the end of the season. “You can see it in his eyes,” Schumacher reportedly said. “It’s the look of someone who is beginning to realise that this might not go the way he had hoped.”

Those comments were largely brushed aside at the time, seen as speculative noise during a break in the calendar. But after Saturday’s performance at Imola – and the emotional toll it seemed to take on Hamilton – Schumacher’s assessment is beginning to resonate.

Hamilton’s contract runs until the end of 2025, but as is often the case in F1, contracts are only as strong as the motivation behind them. And right now, Ferrari’s ability to persuade Hamilton to see out that deal is being tested not just by the stopwatch, but by the psychological toll of continuing to fight a losing battle.

 

Ferrari tyre mystery deepens crisis

One of Ferrari’s biggest problems at Imola – and throughout the season – has been their inability to get fresh tyres into the optimum operating window for qualifying. Both Hamilton and Leclerc have expressed concern at the trend that seems to favour used tyres and longer runs, while crippling them in the all-important one-lap shootouts.

“This has been a trend for us all season,” said Leclerc. “We have to analyse it. Something isn’t working.”

Hamilton was even more exasperated. “We put on new tyres expecting more grip and more pace, but it just wasn’t there,” he said. “When you see how fast Max [Verstappen] is going through turns 2 and 3, we just can’t match that. We’re losing a full second – they’re doing 1:14.7, we’re stuck at 1:15.7. That’s huge.”

Such deficits don’t just affect race results – they wear on a rider’s resolve, especially one who has spent nearly two decades chasing greatness at the back of the grid.

 

An underwhelming homecoming in red

Hamilton’s Italian home debut with Ferrari should have been a celebration. It was a moment the Tifosi had been dreaming of for years: Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver in F1 history, in Ferrari red at Imola. But what happened on Saturday felt like a cruel parody of that dream.

“This is my first home race for Ferrari in Italy – and not getting into Q3 hurts,” said Hamilton. “It’s really bitter.”

As he walked away from the media pen, the usual Hamilton swagger – smiling, talking about how Sunday could be different – was missing. In its place was a man who looked emotionally drained, and perhaps privately wondering how much longer this chapter was going to continue.

 

Strategic limitations at Imola could add to the pain

If qualifying was disappointing, Sunday may not offer much respite. The Imola circuit is notoriously difficult to overtake, making Ferrari’s starting positions all the more damaging.

“I mean, it’s not a very good track for overtaking,” admitted Hamilton. “You get stuck in a DRS train and not much happens. Everybody’s on similar strategies. Unless there’s a safety car, you’re locked in.”

Leclerc agreed, saying that any deviation from the standard one-stop approach would amount to a gamble. “The right strategy is basically the same for everyone. If you deviate from it, you are just hoping for a safety car. Is that the right approach for tomorrow? Maybe. But it’s a risk.

That leaves Ferrari – and Hamilton – in a holding pattern, stuck in midfield, waiting for circumstances or miracles to offer a way forward.

 

What’s next for Ferrari – and for Hamilton?

Ferrari’s situation is far from over. There are still upgrades to be made, circuits that better suit their strengths, and a long championship yet to unfold. But the psychological wounds of races like Imola run deep, especially for someone like Hamilton, who came to Maranello to chase one last title, not to fight for eleventh place on a Saturday.

And so the rumours will continue. Every disappointing session, every dejected interview, every cue in body language will feed the speculation.

Ralf Schumacher’s comments may have seemed like idle gossip a week ago. But in the cold aftermath of Ferrari’s Imola collapse, they’re beginning to feel like the canary in the coal mine. If Hamilton’s passion is waning, Ferrari may soon be facing more than just a performance crisis – they may have to decide on their future beyond 2025 sooner than expected.