Sun Dec 07 14:20:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

Lewis Hamilton is enduring a difficult end to his first season with Ferrari. At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he qualified a disappointing 16th, marking his third consecutive Q1 elimination (fourth including sprint qualifying). He expressed extreme anger and frustration with his performance. This season could be his first without a podium finish. His struggles continue a trend from the second half of the season. Hamilton also crashed during final practice.

News Article:

Hamilton Seething After Abu Dhabi Qualifying Disaster, Faces Podium Drought

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari is ending on a sour note, with the seven-time world champion qualifying a dismal 16th for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This marks his third consecutive elimination in the first qualifying session (Q1) and fourth if sprint qualifying in Qatar last weekend is also included.

The result leaves Hamilton staring down the barrel of his first Formula 1 season without a podium finish. He currently sits sixth in the drivers’ championship, a significant 78 points behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who qualified fifth.

“I don’t have the words to describe the feeling that I have inside,” a visibly frustrated Hamilton said. “An unbearable amount of anger and rage. There’s not really much I can say about it.”

Hamilton’s struggles extend beyond qualifying. He also crashed during final practice, citing “bottoming” of the car as the cause. His post-qualifying media engagement was terse, offering minimal responses, a familiar pattern during his difficult second half of the season. When questioned about his ability to reset during the short winter break, he responded simply, “Time will tell.”

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set for Sunday, where Hamilton faces a significant challenge to salvage a podium and avoid a historically disappointing season. Max Verstappen will start on pole, putting further pressure on the veteran driver to fight his way through the field.

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