Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed regret to his Ferrari team after a challenging qualifying session at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he secured only the ninth-fastest time. The British driver, in his first season with the Italian outfit, acknowledged his underwhelming performance, stating he felt he had let the team down.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari in a high-profile move for the 2025 season, admitted the car showed strong potential, as evidenced by teammate Charles Leclerc’s third-place qualifying result. “The positive is the car is a lot better than what I’m delivering with it,” Hamilton said. “Charles did a great job with it today, so big apologies to the team for not doing the job.”
The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the opening round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and Ferrari arrived with upgrades aimed at closing the gap to rivals McLaren and Red Bull. While Leclerc capitalized on the improved pace, Hamilton struggled to find his rhythm, matching his worst-ever Bahrain qualifying result. “It’s definitely not a good feeling, for sure,” he added, reflecting on the session.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remained optimistic about his prospects for the race. “I’ve got to do the talking on the track tomorrow,” he vowed, signaling his intent to fight back in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Ferrari’s upgrades have shown promise, and Hamilton will look to leverage the car’s pace to climb the order under the Sakhir floodlights.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claimed pole position, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in second, setting the stage for a competitive race. Leclerc’s front-row proximity keeps Ferrari in the hunt, but Hamilton faces a tougher challenge from the fifth row.