Lewis Hamilton suffered another disappointment this Friday during qualifying for the sprint race in Qatar, as was the case during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix last week, where he started 19th on the grid. After retiring from the first qualifying session, the Ferrari driver lost his temper once again and criticised the Scuderia’s car.
It’s déjà vu all over again. Last week, Hamilton started 19th on the grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Ultimately, the seven-time world champion climbed to eighth place during the race, but preparation had been rather chaotic for the Briton. Afterwards, Hamilton told the press that he wasn’t in any hurry to race with Ferrari next season under the new regulations.
“I hope he’s not happy when you finish in sixth or seventh place.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Frédéric Vasseur addressed his driver’s outburst live from Qatar during free practice and qualifying for the sprint race.
“Honestly, it comes 10 minutes after a race. It was a difficult race for him and the team. I can completely understand the frustration. When he says he’s not focused on 2026, it’s because he’s concentrating on today’s race.”
The Scuderia team principal also sent a clear message to Lewis Hamilton regarding his widely publicised frustration.
“I take this as a positive reaction. We need to improve from where we are. And that’s clear. We can’t be happy with sixth or fifth place. We have to channel that frustration into aggression. He’s not happy… I hope he won’t be happy if you finish in sixth or seventh position. If he were happy with that, I’d be devastated.”
“Ah man, the car won’t go any faster…”
It seems fate is conspiring against Lewis Hamilton. Like Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll, the seven-time world champion was eliminated from qualifying in the first session, managing only 18th place. After this result, which was far below his usual standards and those expected of a Ferrari driver, Hamilton made no secret of his frustration with the SF-25 over the radio.
“Ah man, the car isn’t going to get any faster!”
Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur found himself in his now traditional role as team therapist when Sky Sports asked him about Lewis Hamilton’s latest radio outburst during free practice and sprint qualifying in Qatar. With the calmness of a man who has already heard every possible driver complaint twice this season, Vasseur shrugged off the drama.
“Honestly, it comes 10 minutes after a session. It was a tough session for him and the team. I can completely understand the frustration. When he says he’s not focused on 2026, it’s because he’s concentrating on today’s race,” he explained.
He then delivered a pointed, unmistakably Vasseur-esque message to Hamilton regarding his very public frustrations.
“I take this as a positive reaction. We need to improve from where we are. And that’s clear. We can’t be happy with sixth or fifth place. We have to channel that frustration into aggression.”
Fate, apparently, has the steering wheel
Is Hamilton set to leave Ferrari?
There’s growing chatter inside Ferrari that Lewis Hamilton might be preparing to leave after just one turbulent season in red. Senior figures at Maranello have described the seven-time world champion as “detached” and “already halfway out the door”.
His tense and visibly uncomfortable press conference in Qatar on Thursday only fuelled these suspicions.
What began as a fairytale pairing, Hamilton finally in the scarlet seat he once dreamed of, has unravelled into a year of rising frustration, mechanical issues and a level of personal disappointment that the Scuderia never anticipated. According to team insiders, the lively newcomer who joked his way around Fiorano in pre-season has faded into someone who now strolls the corridors looking defeated and convinced that he can no longer turn this project around.
Those close to the team say that the tone of private discussions has changed. Conversations that were once focused on how to help Lewis thrive are now centred on preparing for life after him. If Hamilton does choose to leave early, his departure will almost certainly be marked by the kind of operatic flourish that only Ferrari can truly master.
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
