F1 2025: Lewis Hamilton returns to London as Ferrari crisis deepens

F1 2025

Lewis Hamilton returns to London as Ferrari crisis deepens

The storm clouds are gathering at Maranello

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Friday 25 April 2025 08:27 Updated: 21:14

The storm clouds are gathering at Maranello as Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari nightmare continues, but the F1 legend is out of town.

The seven-time world champion hit a new low last weekend when he appeared completely lost in TV interviews following his seventh-place finish at the Saudi Grand Prix.

It was a complete drubbing for Lewis, who finished more than 30 seconds behind Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in a 50-lap race.

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The brief positivity generated by that recent Sprint Race victory in China is already long gone, with Hamilton admitting the car was not the problem in a painful Sky Sports F1 interview with Rachel Brookes last Sunday.

Events in Jeddah had F1 pundits fearing the worst for Hamilton, with Ralf Schumacher even raising the possibility of the former Mercedes star quitting this season.

So far the fairytale move to Italy is turning out to be more of a nightmare.

Hamilton heads back to the UK

Time is short for Hamilton and Ferrari to bring about major improvement ahead of the next race on the F1 calendar - which takes place in Miami next weekend.

But instead of being in Italy, the 40-year-old superstar was returned to the UK on Friday for a previously scheduled engagement to open a brand new Fanatics Collectibles flagship store in central London.

Lewis was at the Regent Street store for a noon opening, where he cut the ribbon and threw packs of trading cards into the crowd.

At the event, Hamilton addressed the crowd, saying: "Hi, guys. I wasn't prepared for this speech. I'm a bit gobsmacked to see so many of you here. So, I just wanted to personally thank you [the Fanatics CEO with him] so much for having me and making me part of this family.

"The support that I've had... [fan shouts I LOVE YOU]..I love you too. I'm so, so lucky to have the support from so many of you and people around the world.

"It's something I never thought that I'd ever have growing up in a small town like Stevenage.. But being in London... I'm so proud of the sporting fans that we have.

"Please keep your fingers crossed. I'm not going to give up. Thank you all so much. I appreciate it."

"Still we Rise right?"

Maybe time away from the pressure of that Ferrari bubble will be a benefit for Hamilton as he struggles to get to grips with the team's much-hyped SF-25 car.

We will find out in Miami next weekend, with the seven-time champion sure to be under intense scrutiny once again.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Charles Leclerc Maranello