Lewis Hamilton’s Brazilian GP comments suggest Ferrari might have a ‘huge concern’ for 2026

Follow us on Google Discover

Lewis Hamilton is adored in Brazil and has won at Interlagos on three occasions.

However, the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was a disaster for Ferrari, as both of their drivers retired from Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc was taken out of the race by a collision involving Oscar Piastri and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Lewis Hamilton had a first lap to forget.

Leclerc refused to solely blame Piastri for his exit, but his front suspension was broken as soon as Antonelli slammed into the side of his car.

Hamilton was also hit going into the first corner, making contact with Carlos Sainz before driving into the back of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine.

It caused irreversible damage to his floor and earned him a five-second penalty, ending his faint hopes of an eighth visit to the podium at Interlagos.

Hamilton was furious over the team radio, and after the race, admitted that his start to life as a Ferrari driver had been a ‘nightmare’.

Journalist Ben Hunt reflected on Hamilton’s comments after the race, and admitted that what Ferrari have been doing this season should be a ‘huge concern’ going into 2026.

The upcoming F1 regulation changes should have been a reset point for Ferrari, but very little about what Fred Vasseur’s team are doing this season suggests they’ll be in a strong position next year.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Lewis Hamilton’s ‘nightmare’ comments suggest Ferrari will have ‘huge concerns’ about the 2026 F1 season

Hunt was speaking about Ferrari’s predicament on the Inside the Piranha Club Podcast following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

He said: “I mean, it’s a blow, isn’t it? I think for me, Hamilton’s comments, especially, saying that it’s been a nightmare season for him. That’s not what anyone wanted to hear.

“No one had probably expected with all of that fanfare at the start of the year, with him going to Ferrari.

“We went into this weekend with me saying I was optimistic because the team seemed to be making progress.

“I know there was a bit of a first-lap collision, but ultimately, the car wasn’t quick enough, and that should be the biggest concern. The fact is that progress, well, not so much progress, but I can’t put my finger on why one week’s good, and one week’s bad.

“We saw that with Mercedes with all the porpoising a few years ago, and it can put the team into a bit of a tailspin as they chase to find reasoning.

“Then they go back to old set-ups and just looking for any glimmer of hope that means that they’re able to iron out the problems, but they just seem absolutely clueless at the moment.

“That should be a huge concern going into next season with the big regulation change.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari chairman’s comments on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc might do more harm than good

Ferrari chairman John Elkann was speaking about the team’s performance after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and was far from impressed with Leclerc and Hamilton’s comments.

During an Italian Olympic Committee event, via Sky Sports, Elkann said: “If we look at the season in F1, we can say we have mechanics who are winning the championship with the performances they’re putting in, particularly with everything they are doing in our pit stops.

“If we look at our engineers, the car has undoubtedly improved. If we look at the rest, it’s not up to standard.

“We have drivers who need to focus more and talk less, because we still have important races to come, and finishing second in the constructors isn’t impossible.”

Leclerc has dedicated his Formula 1 career to Ferrari, and after seven seasons, he’s yet to be given a car that’s been capable of winning a drivers’ championship.

Unsurprisingly, this has led to Leclerc being linked with Red Bull and other teams, and Elkann might regret being so harsh on his drivers without considering what the alternatives might be if either of his star drivers decides to leave.