How people in the Ferrari garage feel about Lewis Hamilton after bizarre ‘weather’s nice’ interview

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Lewis Hamilton could only think of one positive after a Q1 elimination ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint – the weather.

But while the balmy temperatures at Lusail will be a welcome change for the drivers after the coldest weekend of the year in Vegas, Hamilton’s interview has gone viral for the wrong reasons.

He only uttered nine words, telling Rachel Brookes that it was the ‘same as always’ after he qualified 18th. Hamilton hasn’t reached Q3 on any of his last four attempts.

Coming into Qatar, the Briton had scored just 10 points across the three previous weekends – one of the worst sequences of his Formula 1 career.

Lewis Hamilton’s form is causing ‘concern’ within Ferrari

Hamilton gave Ferrari some cause for optimism in September and October. He delivered top-six finishes in Italy and the USA and qualified a season-high third in Mexico.

He was also getting closer to Charles Leclerc, particularly over a single lap. But it’s alarming that he appears to be regressing at the end of his first season in red.

According to Motorsport Italy, there are ‘legitimate questions’ being asked about his future. Hamilton’s Ferrari contract runs for another two years but there are believed to be exit routes in 2026.

Sum up Lewis Hamilton’s debut season at Ferrari in one word…

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Hamilton is ‘anxiously’ awaiting the end of the season so he can begin a ‘crucial reset phase’. If the regulations were to remain the same for next year, he may have walked away already.

The report adds that there is ‘some concern in the Ferrari garage’. The team acknowledge that their car is the biggest problem, but they are worried about the performance gap between the two drivers.

Max Verstappen says age is a problem for Lewis Hamilton – he’s wrong

Leclerc qualified ninth for the Qatar Sprint, underlining the limitations of the Ferrari. But he was still four-tenths faster than his teammate in SQ1.

Looking at the last four sessions where both drivers have been classified, Leclerc has beaten Hamilton by a combined 33 places.

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Max Verstappen says age isn’t on Hamilton’s side – he won’t improve at 40, whereas Leclerc is still getting better.

But the biological clock shouldn’t necessarily be an excuse for the seven-time world champion. While age affects every athlete differently, it’s noteworthy that 44-year-old Fernando Alonso was one of the stars of Sprint qualifying and will line up fourth on Saturday’s grid.