Hamilton’s Ferrari Fairytale Turns Sour: Italian Media Savages “Disaster” Weekend at Spa – When Lewis Hamilton signed on the dotted line with Ferrari, it was supposed to be the crowning glory of an already glittering Formula One career. The most successful driver in the history of the sport, a seven-time world champion, a British knight in scarlet armour, arriving in Maranello to complete his racing legacy. But twelve races into his debut season with the Scuderia, Hamilton’s dream is teetering on the edge of a full-blown nightmare – and the Italian press is now openly sharpening its knives.
Following a disastrous Belgian Grand Prix weekend, even Hamilton’s fiercest critics were left stunned. At Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit he once ruled with poise and pace, the Briton unravelled with alarming ease. A spin in sprint qualifying saw him dumped out in 18th. He then struggled to 15th place in the sprint race itself, before tripping over the track limits in Saturday’s Grand Prix qualifying and being booted out of Q1. Result? A miserable 16th on the grid for Sunday’s race – the worst kind of déjà vu.
And in Italy, where Ferrari drivers are either worshipped or mercilessly flayed, there is no room for sympathy.
Disastro Rosso: The Italian Press Unleashes
The national mood in Maranello was already sour, but after this latest episode, the media declared open season on Hamilton. La Gazzetta dello Sport pulled no punches, calling his Belgian misadventures a “disaster” in bold, angry type. Corriere della Sera went one further, dubbing the entire race weekend a “nightmare,” implying that the man once revered as F1 royalty had now become Ferrari’s most expensive liability.
This was not merely a poor result. It was the continuation of a downward spiral that has seen Hamilton fall deeper into a rut as the season wears on. After years of excellence and consistency, the cracks are starting to look structural rather than superficial.
Hamilton himself appeared sombre and reflective, openly admitting to his errors and taking responsibility in front of the cameras. “That was another mistake on my part,” he said. “It’s devastating for the team. You can’t accept a result like that.” He added later, “It’s a very, very poor performance from me. I really need to take a look inside myself now.”
Those quotes, while honest, only fuelled the narrative of a fallen champion struggling to come to terms with his new reality.
Russell’s ‘needy’ appeal to Mercedes
Form Crisis or Ferrari Failure?
Perhaps most damning is the contrast within his own garage. Charles Leclerc, younger and more attuned to the quirks of the SF-25, once again shone in Belgium. While Hamilton was wrestling the car off-track, Leclerc hustled it into third on the grid. And when a Ferrari driver does well, the tifosi are quick to praise – but when the other fails so spectacularly, the spotlight becomes a burning interrogation lamp.
“It’s unacceptable,” Hamilton admitted, comparing himself to his teammate.
“One car delivers, the other doesn’t. And I feel truly sorry for the team.”
There was no sugar-coating from Ralf Schumacher either. The former F1 driver and Sky Germany pundit offered a rather charitable attempt at explaining the slump – but ended up sounding more like a eulogist than a supporter.
“Lewis has had difficult phases this year, and then things got better again,” said Schumacher. “But this car isn’t his. It’s more Charles’ car. And Charles is younger, more adaptable. Lewis needs consistency. He doesn’t like the new rear axle so much. When things go wrong, bad luck also comes along.”
The suggestion that Hamilton simply cannot cope with Ferrari’s design philosophy – and worse, that age and rigidity are now taking their toll – only added more ammunition for the critics. In the ruthless world of Italian sports commentary, a 40-year-old superstar in decline is not a romantic storyline. It is a scandal in red.
From Legend to Liability?
Hamilton came to Ferrari not just to race, but to cement his legacy. His target was audacious – an eighth world title, the one that has eluded him since 2021. Many believed that with his talent and experience, he could lift Ferrari back to the top of the podium and into championship contention. But so far, the script has gone badly off-course.
After a dozen races, there are no wins. No pole positions. Barely a podium worth writing home about. Instead, there is a trail of excuses, apologies, and now a growing sense that the magic may finally have run out.
There is, of course, the counterargument. Ferrari is not known for providing a friendly environment for outsiders, and Hamilton has had little time to mould the team around him. The car, with its new rear suspension, appears to be designed more for Leclerc’s driving style. Adaptation takes time. But time, in Formula One, is rarely afforded to anyone – least of all a world champion earning a reported £40 million a year.
What is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, however, is the psychological weight Hamilton appears to be carrying. His body language, once calm and commanding, now looks weary and unsure. His interviews, once full of belief and competitive fire, now carry a tone of regret and introspection. The Italian media has not missed this shift, and nor have the fans.
MORE F1 NEWS – Hamilton apologies to Ferrari for unacceptable behaviour
From Spa to the Scrapheap? Not Yet
Let us not be too hasty in writing the obituary. Lewis Hamilton is, after all, still Lewis Hamilton. One of the ‘greatest drivers ever to sit behind the wheel’. A few poor weekends – even a string of them – do not erase the legacy of the man. But the question is not about legacy. It is about now. And right now, Hamilton is floundering in a red car that was supposed to lift him to greatness.
The season is far from over. There are still races to run, points to be scored, and reputations to be salvaged. Hamilton may yet claw back his form and deliver that one standout victory which silences the critics, if only for a while.
But for now, the knives are out in Italy. And the man who was supposed to bring the glory days back to Ferrari finds himself at the centre of a slow-motion sporting tragedy.
We’re trying to grow a new online F1 community on Facebook – if you’re a fan of straight-talking, insight-packed racing content with a twist of satire, come and join the discussion at https://www.facebook.com/TheJudge13 #TJ13
What do you think, dear Jury? Is this just a blip in Hamilton’s Ferrari adventure, or are we witnessing the painful beginning of the end for the record-breaking Brit? Comment below and deliver your verdict – The Judge awaits.
MORE F1 NEWS – How Red bull masterplan ‘stole’ the Sprint
Red Bull Racing are the masters of strategic decision making in the sport of Formula One. For years the Adrian Newey designed cars were crafted with a high rake design intended to add downforce to the car by raising the rear.
Mercedes by comparison had a front and rear end raised at a similar height to each other and with their mighty V6 Turbo hybrid they preferred power over the more complex Red Bull designs.
Yet come the era of the ground effect cars in 2022, the Red Bull philosophy had to change given around 50% of the downforce now comes from the underfloor which by channeling low air pressure sucks the car to the ground…. READ MORE
The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
