The English Ferrari driver: “We’re on the right track, I know it. The crashgate? I don’t know anything”
Upon entering the Ferrari garage he almost collided with his team principal Vasseur. Nod of understanding between the two and off to shake hands with the whole team, as if to say: “we know what to do”. Of course, Lewis Hamilton left Mexico City with more than a few regrets (eighth place in the race didn’t do justice to one of the Englishman’s best weekends) yet there is the belief that Ferrari is on the upswing. Leclerc’s double podium between Austin and Mexico demonstrated this and now it’s Lewis’ turn: “We’re making progress, I can’t wait.”
foundations
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This weekend he races in “his” Brazil, which has welcomed him as an honorary citizen since 2022: “The people here are incredible, every year I receive a fantastic welcome.” While waiting for Sunday, thinking about a seven-time world champion without champagne for the entire season is strange, even if Hamilton takes the negative record (he is the first driver in the history of the red team not to reach the podium after 20 GPs) philosophically: “It’s been a tough year, but if I’m honest, I expected it. I’m joining a new team and also a new culture, I’m well aware that progress takes time.” “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, he persists in repeating almost like a mantra, specifying that “this 2025 was a year dedicated to building the foundations and perhaps it was even more difficult than in the past, but I feel that we are finally making progress”.
“the builder for the team”
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On Wednesday evening Hamilton shared a table with his partner Leclerc in a restaurant (with strictly vegan dishes) in Sao Paulo. Who knows, perhaps the two might have had the opportunity to discuss at the start in Mexico City, when they almost came into contact at the start: “We are not fighting for the championship, so our task is to try to obtain the best results and win – explained the Englishman – we have to do our best for the Constructors’ championship, for the rest, the position in the Drivers’ World Championship is of no interest to anyone if you are not fighting for the title. It doesn’t make any difference to me to be fifth or sixth, I want second place in the Constructors’ Championship, I want it for the team.”
“FIA? THERE IS NO CLARITY”
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Things certainly didn’t go as the Englishman hoped in Mexico City, especially after the third place achieved in qualifying. Blame (also) the severe penalty imposed on the Ferrari driver by the stewards for having cut a chicane: “There is no clarity – he commented – and I think this is part of a wider problem which involves transparency and responsibility, as well as the secrecy of how decisions are made behind the scenes”. And on race direction: “I don’t know if they are aware of the weight of their choices. They certainly influence careers and can even decide the results of a world championship, as you have seen in the past.” In short, what happened in 2021 is not easily forgotten.
“CRASHGATE? I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING”
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The Englishman’s name was then inevitably also involved in the lawsuit brought by Felipe Massa for the well-known “crashgate” of 2008. “I have no opinion on the matter. I don’t read anything and I don’t know anything, simply because this issue has nothing to do with me. Whatever Felipe’s reasons, I have no doubt that he is convinced of it, and rightly so. As for me, I only think about concentrating on my work.” And then Lewis can only look forward, with 2026 which must be the opportunity to redeem a first season far from expectations. “I feel that the progress we are making is bringing me to the position I would like, and this is very important. Next year I will be involved in the development of the car, so I can only hope for a positive season.”
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