Lewis Hamilton’s troubled Las Vegas Grand Prix has reportedly caused concern inside Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, not because of the result on paper, but because of the emotional reaction that followed. After qualifying at the very back of the grid, Lewis Hamilton managed only a modest recovery drive to 10th place before penalties for both McLaren drivers eventually promoted him to eighth. Yet it was the tone of his post-race reflections that captured the attention of fans, journalists and, according to insiders, senior figures at Ferrari.
The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion described the weekend as one of the most difficult of his season, admitting that he had struggled throughout the event and had found it hard even to match Nico Hülkenberg’s pace during the race. As the minutes passed in the media pen, his mood appeared to deteriorate further, to the point where he brushed aside questions about his long-term future in the sport. His downbeat appearance left reporters surprised, as even during previous low points with McLaren and Mercedes he rarely projected such visible frustration.
According to journalist Edd Straw, Ferrari might need to rethink how it handles Hamilton’s media commitments if it wants to avoid similarly negative portrayals that could irritate chairman John Elkann. Elkann had already expressed dissatisfaction with both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after the Brazilian Grand Prix, arguing that Ferrari’s drivers must show a more united and publicly supportive front during difficult weekends.
