Lewis Hamilton endured a disastrous qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending up only twelfth on the grid after Ferrari’s strategy call backfired in Baku. The seven-time world champion was left visibly frustrated, insisting that the wrong tyre choice in Q2 cost him a place in the fight for pole.
Hamilton did not hold back in his criticism, openly blaming Ferrari for leaving him on soft tyres while rivals advanced on mediums. He described the decision as a major error, one that left him “very disappointed” after believing he finally had the pace to challenge at the front. The setback comes despite Hamilton topping Friday practice and looking stronger than teammate Charles Leclerc heading into the session.
Qualifying unravelled when most of those ahead opted for the medium tyre in Q2, leaving Hamilton running on softs. The seven-time champion insisted that he had wanted to switch, but the call never came.
“We didn’t have the right tyre at the end,” Hamilton explained. ‘The medium tyres were much faster; we knew that, but the decision was made to stay out.”
“The team said the medium tyres would take too long to warm up; then we ran out of time and fuel became an issue. It was less than ideal.”
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Set-up confusion added to the frustration
Hamilton also pointed out that the problems were not only tyre-related. On Friday, he had set the benchmark, topping the timesheets ahead of Charles Leclerc, who is usually considered to be Ferrari’s strongest performer on the streets of Baku. Hamilton described his Ferrari SF-25 as feeling ‘really good’ during practice, with a rhythm that gave him the confidence to challenge for pole position.
Yet by Saturday, the balance had shifted. According to Hamilton, the setup changes made overnight did not provide the same level of control.
“On paper it looked like the best path for us,” he admitted.
“In fact, the pace was good. I felt in the flow. I did not make any mistakes and thought I would be fighting for pole. I have not felt that all year. So being knocked out in Q2 came as something of a shock.”
He partly blamed Ferrari’s decision-making. Having damaged a set of medium tyres during practice, Hamilton was at a disadvantage compared to Leclerc, since Ferrari had allocated two fresh sets of medium tyres for Q3. This meant that Hamilton was already at a disadvantage before the crucial laps began.
Earlier in the weekend, Leclerc himself had acknowledged Hamilton’s speed, praising his teammate’s consistency. However, when the team experimented with a different setup, Hamilton felt the car had lost some of the strengths it had displayed on Friday. While he did not elaborate on the precise details, he made it clear that he believed the execution on the day was where things fell short.
Internal discussions are likely to follow
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur responded by downplaying the importance of tyre compound, suggesting that getting the rubber into the right temperature window was more important than the choice of compound. This is likely to set the tone for further internal discussions, with Hamilton already indicating that he believes the team could learn from this missed opportunity.
While the driver expressed irritation, he also struck a conciliatory note.
“It’s not easy to implement everything in the heat of qualifying,” Hamilton admitted. “There are things we can take away internally to improve, and I am sure we will.”
Nevertheless, his words suggest that some pointed conversations are ahead. The Ferrari project has shown flashes of potential this season, but Hamilton has yet to secure a podium finish in a Grand Prix, with his only victory coming in the China Sprint earlier this year. For a driver of his calibre, failing to qualify in the top ten at a circuit where overtaking can be challenging will be hard to accept.
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Hamilton remains convinced of Ferrari’s race pace
Despite Saturday’s disappointment, he remains convinced that Ferrari will be competitive in race conditions. He pointed to Friday’s long-run simulations, in which Ferrari appeared to be the fastest.
“On Friday, we were the fastest in race trim,” he said. “Hopefully, we will have good pace and top speed on Sunday so that we can compete. I am going into the race feeling as optimistic as possible. I still want to finish in the top three. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
This fighting talk underlines Hamilton’s determination not to let the setback define his weekend. With Baku’s unpredictability often delivering surprises, he will be hoping that Ferrari can translate their practice form into a strong performance on Sunday. However, the challenge will be navigating a tightly packed field in qualifying.
For Ferrari, this episode highlights the importance of performing well under pressure. The SF-25 appears to be a fast car, yet translating that speed into results has not always been straightforward. Hamilton’s frustration suggests that opportunities are being missed at crucial moments. Whether this becomes a pattern or a one-off misstep could be decisive in how the season unfolds.
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The season is still searching for rhythm
Sixteen Grands Prix into the 2025 campaign, Hamilton has yet to achieve a podium finish on a Sunday, a statistic that highlights the challenges Ferrari has encountered in delivering consistently over the course of a full weekend. The China Sprint win was a reminder of what the driver can achieve when conditions align, but the bigger picture remains one of unfulfilled potential.
Baku offered a glimmer of hope with Friday’s pace, but qualifying once again demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change. For Hamilton, at least there is clarity over what went wrong.
“I know exactly where things went wrong behind the scenes,” he said. “That is a positive sign, because it means I know what to do in future to prevent it happening again.”
In a season where the margin between success and disappointment is so fine, Ferrari and Hamilton must ensure that they apply the lessons from Baku immediately. The fight for podiums and victories is far from over, but frustration is mounting as chances slip away.
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Gasly is confirmed as Alpine’s lead driver for the upcoming regulations, yet his teammate’s identity remains undecided. While the rumour mill has churned out a familiar list of names, ranging from Red Bull juniors to experienced midfield drivers, Briatore was quick to dismiss most of them. He insisted that only two candidates are in contention, a stance that surprised many in Baku…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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