Lewis Hamilton surprised many this week by disclosing that he has been meticulously documenting every error he and his Ferrari team have committed throughout this year. Given the tumultuous season the seven-time champion has endured, the list likely rivals the size of the largest notepad available in his local Monaco shop.
Approaching his 41st birthday in January, Hamilton is acutely aware of the limited opportunities remaining to secure an eighth Formula 1 title before retirement. The upcoming 2026 season holds significant importance for him, prompting a dedicated effort during the winter to not only develop a competitive car but also eliminate costly mistakes.
As the season draws to a close, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the disappointments of Hamilton and Ferrari during their challenging debut campaign. Despite high expectations at the outset, Hamilton’s start in the red of Ferrari was lackluster, culminating in a 10th-place finish at his first Grand Prix due to unpredictable weather conditions causing chaos on the track.
One bright spot in Hamilton’s year was his victory in the Sprint race in Shanghai, raising hopes for future success with Ferrari. However, this triumph remained an isolated occurrence, overshadowed by subsequent setbacks, including disqualifications for technical infractions and personal errors on the track.
Hamilton’s struggles continued with recurring issues in qualifying sessions, such as a rare lock-up incident in Belgium and self-critical remarks after disappointing performances. Notably, a post-race penalty in Singapore due to brake failure added to his string of misfortunes, further highlighting the challenges faced by both Hamilton and Ferrari throughout the season.
Despite occasional flashes of promise, like Leclerc’s pole position in Budapest, Hamilton’s season was marred by incidents like crashing out at Monza and experiencing a series of setbacks leading to a last-place grid start in a Grand Prix for the first time in his career.
The culmination of a challenging season saw Hamilton enduring yet another setback during qualifying for the final race, ending the year with a string of disappointing performances. As he looks ahead to future opportunities, Hamilton remains determined to learn from this season’s mistakes and strive for better results in the upcoming campaigns.