In addition to the title race in Formula 1, the eyes ahead of Brazil are also on Lewis Hamilton. The trend is more positive than at the start of the season. But there was still no podium.
It’s a record that Lewis Hamilton certainly didn’t want to break when he decided to switch to Ferrari: after 20 races, the seven-time world champion is still waiting for his first podium finish in red – and therefore longer than any other driver in the history of the Scuderia.
The hype from the beginning of the season has now given way to great skepticism. Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc overtook him in the internal team duel in both qualifying (5 to 15) and the race (3 to 15). In addition, the Monegasse has already made it onto the podium seven times.
Another disillusionment at Ferrari
Things still looked quite promising for Hamilton in March. Although the Ferrari was never one of the fastest cars in the current season, the Briton still won the sprint race at the second World Championship round in China. The joy was short-lived because there was no chance of winning either the sprint or the main races in the following weeks.
This was primarily due to the car itself, which did not make the hoped-for progress over the course of the season. Hamilton therefore also criticized his team’s development strategy and complained that “others like Mercedes and Red Bull had something new almost every race.”
Bearman impresses, Hamilton struggles
But Hamilton has rarely been able to impress in terms of driving this season, which is why the pressure on him is growing.
Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman, currently at Haas, surprised with fourth place at the Mexican Grand Prix and received words of praise from Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur: “He did a great job. This weekend he put everything together, zero mistakes – that’s now paying off.” Hamilton’s contract with the Italians runs until 2026. Bearman already has a possible successor ready for 2027.
On the hunt for the record title
The coming season could be the last chance for the Brit to overtake Michael Schumacher and become the sole record world champion. One thing is clear for the 40-year-old: “Ferrari has had great champions in the team over the last 20 years, such as Fernando (Alonso), Sebastian (Vettel) and Kimi (Räikkönen). But none of them became world champions. That shouldn’t happen to me too.”
Four Race weekends remain
But while the team is currently in second place in the constructors’ championship, Hamilton is way behind in sixth place, at least 64 points behind teammate Leclerc. In purely mathematical terms, the world championship title is no longer possible this season, so it’s just a matter of finding as conciliatory an end to the season as possible on the remaining four race weekends.
The next chance for the outstanding podium place is at the upcoming race in Sao Paolo (09.11.25 in the live ticker at sportschau.de).
Interlagos a special place for Hamilton
Perhaps Hamilton’s personal connection to the country and the track in Interlagos will help. In 2008 he celebrated winning the first of his seven world championship titles there after overtaking Timo Glock in the final corners of the race and thus wresting the title away from popular hero Felipe Massa.
Since 2022 he has even been an honorary citizen in the homeland of his great role model Ayrton Senna. So it would be the perfect place for Hamilton to break the podium curse and show that the old magic is still within him.