Hamilton’s ‘terrible day’ Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated first season with Ferrari has hit a pothole at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, as the British driver endured what he described as a ‘terrible day’ at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Hamilton, who was tasked to help Charles Leclerc bring Ferrari back to glory and end the championship drought that has existed since 2008, had a transition year marred by issues with the SF-25 despite a Sprint win and a pole.

Hamilton was buoyed upon his arrival in Spain after he beat Leclerc in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix for the first race. Nevertheless, his hopes to build momentum were dashed in the early stages of the race. Hamilton was told by Ferrari’s radio to let Leclerc overtake Hamilton despite a better qualifying position. The Monegasque had set an incredible pace. Leclerc took Verstappen’s third position on lap 55 when a safety-car was activated after a minor crash between Max Verstappen & George Russell. Hamilton dropped to seventh place and then moved up to six after Verstappen was penalized ten seconds.

‘It was a terrible day,’ Hamilton lamented. ‘The car didn’t work as expected. The team and strategy were good, but after the safety vehicle I was slow. It’s all my fault and I want to get home. His frustration was palpable. It revealed a difficult race that exposed his ongoing issues with adapting to Ferrari’s set-up.

Hamilton’s problems reveal that the team has a difficult road to travel in their quest for the title. All eyes are on Leclerc to continue his title-winning streak and revive Ferrari’s hopes.