When we talk about Formula 1 in the present day, we cannot leave out one of the greatest names in the history of the sport: Lewis Hamilton. The driver, winner of 7 world titles, went through, in his own words, “the worst race in his career” in Barcelona-Catalunya. Following a series of performances below expectations, the great winner showed great frustration in an interview after the race and announced decisions that could have an impact on his career.
After all, what happened in Barcelona?
The Barcelona race that took place on June 1st and was won by the Australian Oscar Piastri from McLaren was far from being a good experience for Hamilton. The driver, who is coming from a series of races where his performances do not match his last championships, showed his frustration in an interview with Sky Sports through short and direct answers.
Hamilton said it was the worst race of his career. After starting in fifth place, the driver didn’t start so badly, even overtaking George Russell, but his performance did not last long. Around the tenth lap, Ferrari instructed Hamilton to let his teammate Charles Leclerc overtake, and by the end of the race, he also lost two more positions to Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Nico Hulkenberg.
When asked about his performance, Hamilton stated that the team’s strategy was good and that the final result was not their fault, but he did mention that he suffered a lack of rear grip for half the race, which was another source of frustration for Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton’s reaction and a big decision to be made
With a performance below expectations, throughout this season for those who follow the sport, but mainly for Hamilton himself, the question we’re all asking is: what are the next steps? And it seems the driver doesn’t have a plan made yet.
When asked if there was anything positive to be learned from the weekend, the answer was a straight “Zero” and nothing more. But Hamilton’s attitude to the next questions was cause for concern for those who admire and follow the racer. After being asked about preparation for Canada, no answer came; Hamilton remained silent. And then, when asked where he was going from there, another short answer came out of his mouth: “Home.”
The answers — and silences — no matter how short, can have many interpretations. It definitely shows a level of demotivation from the driver, who has not yet been able to reach his potential at Ferrari. The “home” answer could mean a temporary withdrawal from the tracks to collect his thoughts and help with his upcoming career decisions.
What comes next? We are still going to find out
Despite his frequent self-criticism and visible frustration with his underwhelming performances throughout this challenging season, Hamilton still manages to hold sixth place overall in the championship standings, with a total of 71 points earned so far. His strongest race performance up to this point came at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where he secured a fourth-place finish, narrowly missing out on a spot on the podium.
Hamilton’s skills have never been in debate; he is currently the greatest winner of Formula 1 world championships, along with the legendary Michael Schumacher. However, the race in Barcelona seemed to undermine the driver’s confidence, as he literally had no explanations for his not-so-good performance over the weekend. It is up to Hamilton, together with Ferrari, to decide what the next steps will be for the driver within the team and the competition. The time at home will be important and perhaps decisive for the driver’s future this season and even for his future in Formula 1.
