Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Imola, 2025 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in 'very dark situation' claims Nico Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton has had a disappointing start to his Ferrari career

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Wednesday 4 June 2025 21:15

Lewis Hamilton's former team-mate Nico Rosberg described the seven-time champion's situation with his new Ferrari team as 'very dark', in the aftermath of a horror show at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton has struggled to make an impression since joining Ferrari back in January, and currently sits sixth in the drivers' championship, 23 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

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At the Spanish GP, Hamilton was overtaken by the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg at the end of the race, and finished a lowly sixth, while Leclerc got himself up onto the podium.

Hamilton showed glimpses of his brilliant best at the Imola GP last month, finishing fourth having started 11th, but that remains his best main race result since joining Ferrari.

The 40-year-old adopted a very downbeat attitude in his post-race interview following the race around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and former team-mate Rosberg then commented on Hamilton's struggles.

"It's hard to watch because today was a horrible day for him, because he was just slow out there, which is very unusual, because, yes, sometimes he's been a little bit off in qualifying, but in racing, usually he's still really, really awesome, and today the race was just shockingly bad," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1.

"He doesn't have answers either. So was there damage in the floor? As these floors are so sensitive, and there can always be a little bit there, and then you lose a lot of time or what was going on, and when you don't have any answers, it's really tough as a driver.

"Then you see your team-mate racing up all the way to third place, being on the podium. In light of the whole season that he's had so far, it's a very dark situation."

Hamilton woes accentuated by Leclerc brilliance

Hamilton's dismal race in Spain followed what had been a surprisingly positive Saturday. The Brit outqualified Leclerc for only the second time since joining Ferrari, and was up in fifth for the start of the race.

However, it only took a few laps for Leclerc to be right on the tail of Hamilton on Sunday, and Ferrari ordered Hamilton to let his Monegasque team-mate through as he was clearly the faster of the two drivers.

Leclerc's podium was his third of the season, while Hamilton is yet to pick up a podium in a main race so far in 2025.

Ferrari were hoping that the arrival of the seven-time world champion would boost them on to claim their first championship win since 2008, having only finished 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors' championship in 2024.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Charles Leclerc Sauber Spanish Grand Prix Nico Rosberg