Lewis Hamilton suffered his first retirement with Ferrari after crashing out of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The crash left Charles Leclerc at a strategic disadvantage.

Hamilton fails again at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton experienced another bitter episode in his time with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion retired on lap 23 of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix after losing control on the banked turn 3 of the Zandvoort circuit. Light rain made the track difficult, and when he hit the painted area of the asphalt, the Briton oversteered and ended up in the barriers, destroying the front right of his car.

The accident meant his first DNF with Ferrari, a hard blow for a driver who is still struggling to fully adapt to the Italian car.

The accident and its consequences on the race

Hamilton's mistake caused the Safety Car to come out, which completely changed the course of the race. The McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took advantage of the neutralization to make a strategic pit stop and maintain control of the race with a perfect double stack in the pits.

On the other side of the coin was Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque had pitted just before the accident, putting him at a clear disadvantage. While his rivals gained time under the safety car, Leclerc found himself relegated even behind George Russell's Mercedes. The incident not only left Ferrari without one of its drivers, but also ruined the chances of its other strong man on the track.

Hamilton and his difficult start at Ferrari

Hamilton arrived at Zandvoort in high spirits after several difficult races, including what he himself called “nightmare” weekends. He qualified in seventh place, his best result in three attempts, and hoped to take a step forward. However, the pressure and conditions led him to make an unusual mistake for a driver of his caliber.

This setback exacerbates his delicate situation at Ferrari. At 40 years of age, the Briton continues to fail to show the consistency that was expected of him when he made his debut with the Italian team. He currently sits sixth in the drivers' championship with 109 points, having failed to score in the Netherlands.

The setback at Zandvoort not only represents a bump in his season, but also raises doubts about his adaptation to Ferrari and the team's ability to give him a competitive car against McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull.