Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was devastated by Ferrari’s disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix performance, with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion confirming that the team must investigate its problems before the next race in Las Vegas.
The Ferrari driver endured another frustrating weekend at Interlagos, where tyre difficulties, excessive oversteer and a late-race spin prevented him from converting an impressive opening lap into a meaningful result.
Hamilton eventually finished ninth, behind teammate Charles Leclerc, after starting from the back of the grid following engine penalties.
His comments have now placed Ferrari’s SF-26 under renewed scrutiny, with the Scuderia facing an important opportunity to understand what went wrong before the final three rounds of the season.
HAMILTON ADMITS FERRARI’S BRAZILIAN GP FAILURE
Hamilton initially appeared capable of producing an impressive recovery at Interlagos.
Starting 20th, the British driver made tremendous progress during the opening lap, immediately moving through the field and reaching the top 10.
However, Ferrari’s performance quickly deteriorated as Hamilton struggled with rear tyre overheating and excessive oversteer.
The problems became particularly difficult in the changing conditions, leaving him unable to maintain the pace required to challenge for a stronger finish.
Hamilton later admitted that Ferrari simply did not have the necessary speed throughout the weekend.
Taking to Instagram after the race, he described himself as devastated by the outcome, particularly the way his afternoon ended.
FERRARI MUST INVESTIGATE SF-26 PROBLEMS
Hamilton’s comments suggest that Ferrari will undertake a detailed examination of its SF-26 following the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The investigation will be particularly important because the team had entered the weekend hoping to demonstrate improved competitiveness after encouraging performances in previous races.
Instead, Interlagos exposed significant weaknesses in its ability to manage tyre temperatures and maintain stability in difficult conditions.
Excessive oversteer can make a car unpredictable, particularly when drivers are trying to accelerate out of corners or navigate changing grip levels.
For Hamilton, those problems made it extremely difficult to push consistently without risking another mistake.
Ferrari must now determine whether its difficulties were primarily caused by setup decisions, tyre management, circuit characteristics or a combination of several factors.
A PROMISING RECOVERY COLLAPSES AFTER EARLY PROGRESS
Hamilton’s race was not entirely without encouraging moments.
His opening-lap recovery demonstrated his ability to make progress despite starting from the back of the grid.
However, Ferrari’s decision to have him yield a position to Oliver Bearman during an FIA investigation also interrupted his momentum.
Hamilton subsequently pushed for a switch from intermediate tyres to slicks as the circuit dried.
When Ferrari eventually made the change, he initially showed promising pace on the soft compound.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to recover further positions disappeared as the weather changed again.
A late-race spin compounded his problems, leaving Hamilton unable to challenge for the result he had hoped to achieve.
LECLERC ALSO ENDURES A DIFFICULT AFTERNOON
Ferrari’s problems were not limited to Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc initially finished seventh before receiving a five-second penalty for his collision with Liam Lawson, dropping him to eighth in the final classification.
That promoted Hamilton to ninth, although neither driver was able to deliver the result Ferrari desperately needed.
The outcome was particularly disappointing considering that both Ferraris had demonstrated opportunities to recover from their engine-related grid penalties.
Instead, the team left Interlagos with another difficult result and additional questions surrounding its competitiveness.
HAMILTON CONGRATULATES MERCEDES AFTER TITLE TRIUMPH
Despite his disappointment, Hamilton also took time to congratulate his former team Mercedes after it secured the 2026 Constructors’ Championship.
The achievement marked another significant success for the Silver Arrows, who had already celebrated Kimi Antonelli’s historic Drivers’ Championship triumph.
Hamilton praised Mercedes for its performance throughout the season, describing the championship as thoroughly deserved.
His message also demonstrated appreciation for the team with which he enjoyed the most successful period of his Formula 1 career.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s failure in Brazil officially ended its mathematical hopes of winning the Constructors’ Championship.
LAS VEGAS BECOMES FERRARI’S NEXT OPPORTUNITY
Ferrari now faces an important period of preparation ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The investigation into the SF-26’s Brazilian difficulties could provide valuable information about the team’s weaknesses and help engineers identify improvements for the remaining races.
Hamilton will also be hoping that Ferrari can eliminate the tyre problems and excessive oversteer that undermined his performance at Interlagos.
With the Constructors’ Championship already decided, Ferrari’s immediate priority will be finishing the season competitively while gathering useful information for its future development programme.
For Hamilton, the challenge is particularly important after another frustrating weekend in his first season with the Scuderia.
The Brazilian Grand Prix may have ended in disappointment, but the investigation could become a crucial step towards understanding why Ferrari continues to struggle when opportunities arise.
If the team can identify the underlying problems and respond effectively in Las Vegas, Hamilton may finally have a chance to turn his recent frustration into a stronger finish to the 2026 campaign.
