Lewis Hamilton described the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix as the “worst race I’ve experienced” after finishing sixth at the Barcelona circuit. The seven-time world champion, who started the race fourth, ultimately crossed the line in sixth place, although he gained a position due to Max Verstappen receiving a 10-second penalty.

Despite a promising start where Hamilton overtook George Russell at Turn 1 to move into fourth, he struggled with pace throughout much of the race. His challenges intensified after being instructed to let his faster Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, pass on lap 10. This team order caused Hamilton to slip to seventh behind both Mercedes cars following the pitstop cycle.

Race Dynamics and Key Moments for Hamilton

Hamilton’s difficulties continued as he battled for competitiveness, briefly regaining sixth place late in the race after Andrea Kimi Antonelli retired. However, on the penultimate lap, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg overtook him on the start-finish straight, pushing Hamilton back to seventh. This sequence reflected Hamilton’s ongoing struggles with rear grip and car balance throughout the race.

After the race, Hamilton offered minimal commentary in a tense and brief media interaction. When asked about his race pace and tyre condition, Hamilton responded curtly, saying,

“Everyone was on the same tyres.”

Asked about a possible performance improvement during the race, his reply was simply, “It naturally is.”

Further questions about his inability to keep up with rivals were met with a blunt,

“I have no idea why you’d say that.”

When pressed on extracting positives from the weekend or plans ahead of the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton’s answers remained terse, stating, “I’m going on it,” and when asked where he would go from here, he replied plainly, “Home.”

Charles Leclerc’s Unexpected Podium Finish

In contrast, Charles Leclerc, who began the race from seventh on the grid, secured a late podium by passing Max Verstappen during the lap 61 safety car restart. Leclerc expressed a more optimistic view of his result, describing his third-place finish as a “good surprise,” especially since the team had not shown strong performance during free practice sessions or qualifying.

Leclerc acknowledged the sacrifices made during qualifying to focus on race setup, which ultimately paid off, complemented by a bit of luck. He added somberly,

“And I’m very happy about our weekend, but I’m not happy about our overall performance. And on that, we need to do a step soon.”

Currently fifth in the championship standings and 23 points ahead of Hamilton in sixth, Leclerc’s result highlights Ferrari’s potential despite underlying performance issues this season.

Impact of the Spanish Grand Prix on the Championship Battle

The race intensified the ongoing tension within Formula 1’s top teams, highlighting struggles from key contenders and strategic challenges. Hamilton’s performance at Barcelona puts pressure on Mercedes to improve in the coming races, especially with rivals like Leclerc closing the points gap.

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s podium finish with Leclerc provides a boost, though it also underscores the need for further development to consistently challenge at the front. Verstappen’s penalty affected final positions, adding an extra layer of complexity to the championship fight.

Looking ahead, the Canadian Grand Prix is poised to be a critical test for Hamilton and Mercedes as they seek to recover from the difficulties experienced in Spain. The relentless competition among Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, and their teams continues to define the season’s intensity.