Lewis Hamilton Didn’t Hold Back in Spain: What Went Wrong with Ferrari’s 2024 Campaign?

Lewis Hamilton arrived in Barcelona for the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix not just as a seven-time world champion but as a driver with everything to prove in his new Ferrari colors. For a few fleeting moments, there was potential: Hamilton had outqualified his teammate Charles Leclerc for only the second time this season and nailed the launch off the line, gaining track position on George Russell’s Mercedes and putting the SF-25 precisely where it needed to be. Yet, by lap 66, it had all unraveled. As Hamilton crossed the finish line in a painful sixth place, the frustration was palpable. “That’s the worst race I’ve ever experienced, balance-wise,” he radioed. For a driver of Hamilton’s stature, these are words that speak volumes — and they reveal deeper cracks in Ferrari’s 2024 project than a single race result can show.

A Race Gone Wrong — From Promise to Pain

Heading into Spain, Ferrari and Hamilton had reasons for optimism. His fifth-place qualifying meant he’d start ahead of Leclerc, their internal rivalry poised for a pivotal moment. The opening laps bolstered that narrative: Hamilton leapt ahead at the lights, with Leclerc tucking in behind. For a handful of laps, Ferrari looked in the hunt. But as Lando Norris’s McLaren and the Red Bulls stretched away, Hamilton’s pace began to fade — and fast. He fought the car through every medium-speed corner, a pivotal feature of Catalunya’s layout. As Norris pulled clear, so too did Leclerc, with the Ferrari pit wall signaling a team orders switch on lap 9. Hamilton complied, giving up track position to a teammate who, for much of this season, has been the team’s more consistent weapon.

That moment was the race’s true turning point. Leclerc capitalized, eventually fighting onto the podium with a gutsy, perfectly managed drive. Hamilton slid backwards, losing grip, time, and ultimately his composure as he was passed — humiliatingly — by Nico Hülkenberg’s Sauber in a car that, just weeks ago, seemed destined for the back half of the pack. Hamilton’s eventual promotion to sixth came only after Max Verstappen was hit with a 10-second penalty, a technicality that did nothing to mask the team’s embarrassment. For Ferrari, being overtaken on merit by a Sauber was a stinging indictment of their progress and ambitions.

Post-Race Fallout: Public Honesty and Internal Uncertainty

Hamilton’s debrief over the radio was blunt: “I believe we’ve got something wrong with this car, mate. It’s the worst it’s ever been.” Unlike earlier years, where a bad weekend could be blamed on setup, strategy, or tire choices, Spain felt fundamentally different. The SF-25 seemed unpredictable, its balance deteriorating over the race, not improving. This wasn’t a case of misfortune or mechanical gremlins — it hinted at something deeper in the car’s DNA or development path.

In the paddock, Hamilton was subdued. Gone was the post-race engagement; in its place, a quiet exhaustion. “I have no idea why it was so bad,” he told the media — a rare, raw admission of confusion from a champion rarely at a loss for answers. When pressed for positives, his answer was flat: “Zero.” Even hope for upcoming races seemed dim, as he waved off questions about fixes: “Home,” he replied, signaling not just the need for a break, but perhaps a deeper yearning to reset.

The mental toll of Spain was evident. Hamilton’s comment to Sky Sports’ Rachel Brooks — “I’m sure they won’t [figure it out], it’s probably just me” — underlined the isolation he now feels within Maranello. When confidence erodes, performance often follows, and Hamilton’s faith in Ferrari is at a precarious crossroads.

What’s Wrong With the SF-25?

Reports from inside Ferrari suggest the root of their crisis is the SF-25’s rear-end instability. On paper, this car should be better: it’s an evolution of the promising 2023 chassis, with a winter’s worth of upgrades. But whether due to aerodynamic tweaks or suspension geometry, the car just won’t connect with Hamilton’s famously sensitive driving style. While Leclerc managed to work around the instability, Hamilton was continually caught out, especially in high-speed corners and transition zones.

Team insiders acknowledge the problem and are rushing a package of upgrades — rear suspension revisions and a new floor — initially targeted for the Canadian Grand Prix, but now more likely to appear in Austria due to manufacturing delays. Complicating matters, there’s a fear that the car’s development is being pulled toward Leclerc’s preferences, leaving Hamilton on the outside desperate for changes that may never come.

Leclerc Ascendant: Team Dynamics Shift

Amid Hamilton’s struggles, Leclerc has quietly asserted himself as Ferrari’s lead driver — not just for now, but for the season’s narrative. His drive in Spain — relentless pace, tire mastery, and sharp overtakes — ultimately earned him a podium and, perhaps more importantly, increased influence within the team. Engineers, strategists, and even the garage’s hierarchy are starting to pivot toward the Monegasque’s feedback.

For Hamilton, once promised equal footing and a new era at Ferrari, the adjustment stings. With every race Leclerc outpaces him, the risk grows that the team will entrench around their homegrown star.

Looking Ahead: Is Recovery Possible?

Ferrari’s planned upgrades will arrive either in Montreal, a circuit where Hamilton has a record seven wins, or in Austria. Yet, until the fundamental handling issues are addressed, any optimism is cautious at best. The team’s technical staff are under intense scrutiny: can they find the balance, stability, and pace needed to save their season (and Hamilton’s faith) before internal frustration boils over into a public split?

Meanwhile, the competition grows fiercer. Red Bull is ever formidable, McLaren has closed the gap, and Mercedes — Hamilton’s old home — is resurgent. Ferrari cannot afford to let this malaise persist.

Conclusion: Crisis Point at Maranello

The Spanish Grand Prix was more than a bad race; it was a warning shot. When a champion of Hamilton’s pedigree brands a race “the worst,” it’s not hyperbole — it’s a red alert. Ferrari must fix the SF-25’s flaws, restore confidence, and rekindle the belief that brought Hamilton to Maranello in the first place. The next few races will be decisive, not just for podiums or points, but for the very trajectory of Ferrari’s modern era.

If Ferrari fails to deliver, the questions facing Hamilton — and the Scuderia itself — will only grow louder. After Spain, nothing at Ferrari can be taken for granted again.