Lewis Hamilton ended qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in thirteenth place, marking his second consecutive Q2 elimination. His frustration was clear as he described the weekend as effectively finished. The Ferrari driver explained that the car’s setup was not the issue. Instead, tyre preparation on the out lap failed to deliver the rear temperature needed for a competitive timed lap. Entering his push lap with limited grip left him unable to close the small gap required to reach the top ten.
The contrast with Charles Leclerc’s session was significant. Leclerc struggled early in Q2 but improved on his second attempt to move into Q3 and eventually qualify third. Both drivers are operating with the same SF 25, yet their results highlight the narrow margin for error on a circuit where tyre behaviour can dictate the entire qualifying outcome. Ferrari’s inconsistent season continues to place added pressure on execution in sessions where track evolution is rapid and grip levels shift quickly.
Hamilton finished seventh in the sprint before qualifying and has not found a stable performance window across the weekend. When asked about the possibility of recovering positions in the race, he responded that the outlook was bleak given the current pace. His comments reflected a resigned view of the remaining sessions, suggesting that progression through strategy alone would not be enough to overcome the deficit.
Max Verstappen also experienced a setback on the same day, failing to advance from Q1 for the first time in four years. The Interlagos circuit has produced unusual qualifying patterns for both drivers. Their only Q1 or Q2 eliminations in recent seasons have occurred at this venue in consecutive years. The combination of surface temperature, tyre sensitivity and short lap length often exposes small mistakes or setup limitations.
Lando Norris secured pole position ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Leclerc as McLaren continued to show strong qualifying form. Hamilton will start from the midfield and faces limited opportunities to climb through the field without early gains or external incidents. The result underlines the difficulties Ferrari continues to face as the season enters its final phase.
