Nico Rosberg warns Lewis Hamilton ‘the whole of Italy’ may soon give up on him at Ferrari

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Lewis Hamilton suffered a third Q1 exit in a row to round out the final qualifying session of the season, and Nico Rosberg has some words of warning for his former teammate.

No one is awaiting the conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 season more than Lewis Hamilton, and yet another disappointing performance in qualifying has only rubbed more salt in the wounds of the seven-time world champion.

The British driver had been fairly consistently scoring points during the opening half of his debut season with Ferrari, but recent Grands Prix have magnified the issues that are happening within the ranks of the Scuderia in Maranello.

In fact, Hamilton is now in danger of losing out on sixth place in the drivers’ standings to the young rookie who replaced him at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli.

The Italian driver is just two points away from leapfrogging his predecessor in the F1 standings, and it would be the cherry on top of a turbulent debut season in the sport if he does manage to do it.

• READ MORE: What F1 CEO said in private as he watched Lewis Hamilton lose 2021 title at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg warns Lewis Hamilton about Ferrari fans giving up on him

In his post-qualifying interview with Sky Sports F1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton was lost for words when attempting to give an explanation of his woes.

The interview was analysed by one of his greatest F1 rivals, Nico Rosberg, and the 2016 world champion had some brutal words for his former nemesis.

Asked what Hamilton needs to do to regain his former pace, Rosberg said, “First of all, he’ll take some time off, but then he also needs to really get back to work.

“Get into the simulator at Ferrari and drive that new concept car because it’s an entirely different Formula 1 car for next year, and really put in the work to prepare.

“That’s gonna be important, but it’s very scary from his point of view because soon, if it continues like that, the team will lose faith in him, and they will.

“The whole of Italy may lose faith in him; that is not far away anymore, and so it’s a very, very scary situation.”

Before the beginning of the final race weekend of the season, Ralf Schumacher highlighted how Hamilton rarely utilises the simulator in Maranello, whereas Charles Leclerc is on it ‘every day’.

The Monegasque driver has scored seven podiums so far this season, to Hamilton’s zero. Leclerc also boasts 78 more points than his Ferrari counterpart in the drivers’ standings.

• READ MORE: Nico Rosberg brutally mocks Lewis Hamilton straight after Abu Dhabi Grand Prix crash

Nico Rosberg also sympathised with Lewis Hamilton for his struggles throughout the 2025 season

Before his relatively blunt message to Hamilton, Rosberg also sympathised with the struggling Ferrari star.

Asked if Hamilton is too hard on himself, the German highlighted how difficult it has been to see the seven-time world champion fall from grace so dramatically, saying, “I mean, Charles is fifth, let’s not forget, so Lewis is definitely responsible at least partially, if not entirely, for being 16th on the grid.

“It’s just so unbelievably hard. It’s so tough, I can really feel for him, because it’s horrible. You start to doubt yourself, he thinks to himself, you know, maybe I’ve lost it.

“Maybe it’s just gonna continue like that the whole next year, more pain, and it’s really a horrible situation to be in, and not nice to see.”

Earlier on in the day, before qualifying, Rosberg told Hamilton that things aren’t going to get any easier unless he changes his own fortunes around.

The seven-time world champion has one chance left to end the season on a high note. Starting from 16th, a podium is very doubtful, but would certainly help his confidence heading into the new year.