Race 9 - 2025 Spanish GP [Circuit de Catalunya - Barcelona]

[N. Jones]

Should have left Max on the softs.

[Nitrodaze]

I think the Ferrari-Hamilton honeymoon is over, and we are seeing the first signs of a crack in the relationship between Hamilton and his engineers begin to show. Drifting backwards from fourth to 7th is the worst performance we have ever seen from Hamilton. And this is not driver-related but purely car-related. It was not tyre-related either, as car instability started while he had good tyre life.

Based on what we have seen today, it is very clear that another multiple world champion is not going to bring Ferrari their coveted championship win. Mainly because Ferrari is doing everything it can to prevent it. Wittingly or unwittingly. Whatever the case, Hamilton is unlikely to win anything with the team of mechanics and engineers on his side of the Ferrari garage. Verseur is failing to handle the situation

[Nitrodaze]

Should have left Max on the softs.

With 8 laps to go, that is exactly what l thought. I thought they would leave him out to gain track position and go from there.

[airshifter]

Kind of a strange weekend all the way around. The only thing predictable was that the McLarens are still the class of the cars.

The TD turned out to be a nothingburger. It might have hindered some cars slightly, but no major shifts in the overall spreads of the field.

Qually was strange with the track temp drop, and some cars not really pushing to get out more laps as the track came alive. Leclerc had burned up tires early on and opted out of the car early, saving better tires for the race, which is turns out might have paid off.


Into turn one, Max once again showed how he never gives up. Sadly, towards race end he went from the hero at least keeping McLaren on their toes, to the zero having a red mist moment and getting a rightful penalty, when he should have finished at least fifth, and possibly fourth. I do think Red Bull made the wrong call, but what was done was done and he just made it worse.

Oscar had no issues controlling things up front, and Lando bounced back quick enough to keep both the cars up in the front. In all fairness, Red Bull was fantastic in changing up their strategy and hoping for that safety car.... but then blew it when the safety car came. I think we were possibly robbed of a shootout between Max and Charles had they just kept Max out when the safety car came. But I think McLaren had them covered either way, and with fresh tires both Lando and Oscar would have ended up back in front.

The midfield gaves us quite a bit of good racing actually, and that outside pass at turn 3 was fantastic when pulled off by several. Even cars out of the points kept it decent to watch, and it turns out Alonso would not be dened a points finish. Hadjar had a solid but mostly lonely race, and seeing Hulk fighting in those positions to the end was a bit of a shock, even getting Hamilton in the end. Yuki was.... par on course for the 2nd RB driver. The struggle bus has made most of them look like the best bet would have been to stay with Albon. As it is now that seat just eats drivers.

The Merc power failures have to be alarming for any team running the Merc power units, and once again Kimi is on the side of the road and Ferrari passed them in WCC points. If they can retain that lead is yet to be seen. Right now the bad luck of Merc seems to be giving them a chance, but with both teams having solid drivers it might be close throug the year. Though they are in second at the time, the hopium of those thinking Lewis going to Ferrari was going to reinvent Ferrari is fading quickly. Unless Lewis can regroup and at least compete with Charles more often then they will remain at risk.


As for the race up front, I'm starting to think Oscar is similar to Ferrari's last WDC, but maybe without as much alcohol involved. He stays solid, isn't emotional at all on the radio, and just does his thing. And to some extent I think his mental game is stronger than Lando's, and he might take away Lando's best shot at a WDC. But right now, it seems like the pressure from any other team being in the hunt has lessened quite a bit, so those two will be shooting it out race to race.

[airshifter]

Should have left Max on the softs.

That was a shocker to me. And for a split second it looked like Max's race might end in the first corner at the restart. It's a shame the red mist came into the picture. I think he should have just kept the position on George and hoped to make the gap, but he reverted to his rage of earlier years instead.

A rare screw up of the strategy for the team though.

[airshifter]

It's even worse now for Max. The stewards noted that he would not have had to give the position back to George.

So his lack of temper control took him from a podium to 10th place.

[N. Jones]

I also think my belief that Lewis is no longer a world-beater is coming true. His last three years have been nothing but complaints. Sure, he'll score points, maybe get a luck podium, but I don't think he is ever going to outscore Charles.

[Used to be Starter]

I also think my belief that Lewis is no longer a world-beater is coming true. His last three years have been nothing but complaints. Sure, he'll score points, maybe get a luck podium, but I don't think he is ever going to outscore Charles.

I disagree with that, but not too strongly. He just doesn't seem to be able to get comfortable in that car. Should the team be able to correct it, he may yet have a decent year. Given Ferrari though your observation may be safe.

[Nitrodaze]

I also think my belief that Lewis is no longer a world-beater is coming true. His last three years have been nothing but complaints. Sure, he'll score points, maybe get a luck podium, but I don't think he is ever going to outscore Charles.

His years post-Abu Dhabi have been well below what we were used to seeing from Hamilton. Since then, a lot of new, younger talent have moved into the limelight and have to some extent overshadowed his perceived performance capability. Much like it did for Vettel and Alonso. And even Schumacher in his post-Ferrari years. The question on everyone's mind is, has he still got that magic that propelled Mercedes to 8 constructors' titles? Unfortunately, since Abu Dhabi 2021, we have not seen Hamilton in a championship-winning car. Apart from Rosburg, he is yet to be beaten in a championship-winning car.

Based on his performance since 2021, most are inclined to say he is done. And the evidence would suggest that. But what the evidence do not have, is seeing Hamilton in a proper championship-winning car after 2021. And to see how he performs in such a car relative to his teammate and rivals in other cars.

I personally think he is a bit lost and needs to find his way back to being comfortable in his car. And he needs the help of his team to get him in sync with the car. When they do, we will see the true level that Hamilton is at. It may be the return of Hamilton of pre-2021, or he may fall short of LeClerc and everyone else. Until then, it is hard to rule him out completely.
I am hoping for a championship-winning Ferrari so that we may see him properly fight with Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, LeClerc and Russell. The last hurray if you like before he puts down his helmet and bows out of F1.

He is a phenomenal champion, and he is deserving of better than how Ferrari is treating him at the moment. I think it is very wasteful and disgraceful what is going on at Ferrari at the moment.