Formula 1 Spanish GP

This is why Lewis Hamilton apologised after "down" Spanish GP interview

Lewis Hamilton finished the Spanish Grand Prix in sixth after a fifth-place start

Lydia Mee

Published: Jun 5, 2025, 11:34 AM

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton apologised to Sky Sports F1 reporter Rachel Brookes following his downbeat post-race interview at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Hamilton's race in Barcelona saw his struggles with Ferrari continue. Despite qualifying fifth on the grid ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc, he ended up crossing the line in sixth as Leclerc celebrated a third-place finish on the podium. At the same time, the seven-time Formula 1 champion could be heard saying over the team radio, "Unbelievable guys. There's something wrong with this car, mate. It's the worst it's ever been."

The post-race interview with Brookes showed his frustration..

"It was not a great day. The strategy was good, the team did a great job. That's it," he said after being asked about his race. Brookes said she hated seeing him "in this mood," to which he responded, "Well, what do you want me to say? I just had a really bad day and have nothing to say. It was a difficult day, there's nothing else to add to it, it was terrible."

According to Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, Hamilton later apologised for the interview.

"He was so down on Sunday," Croft explained on the Sky Sports F1 Show (embedded below). "Rachel Brookes was saying that he actually apologised to her after his interview in the pen, and he went and said sorry because he was so down, and not the best interviewee she's ever had."

Croft went on to discuss Hamilton's transition to Ferrari. After a successful 12-year stint at Mercedes, which resulted in six of his seven drivers' titles, Hamilton decided to fulfil his lifelong dream of driving for the iconic Maranello outfit. Nine races into the 2025 season, Hamilton is still working with the team to adjust to the car to his preferences.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP Via Getty Images

"Let's try and offer a bit of hope on this one for him," Croft added. "Ferrari haven’t specified exactly what the issue was, but according to Fred Vasseur, there was an issue with the car in the final stint, and that wasn’t helping him. Nico Hulkenberg was on a brand new set of soft tyres, and they made a huge amount of difference, whatever car you were driving.

"So it wasn’t a surprise that on a new set, Hulkenberg has got past Lewis on an old set of softs. He should have been passed by Charles Leclerc a bit sooner, though. Ferrari left their team orders one or two laps too late once again, despite being aware that they might, with the drivers on different strategies, need to go through this one.

"But he didn’t have that race pace for the first two-thirds of the race, let alone the last one. You go away, you go back to the drawing board, don’t you, and you go and find what’s wrong. And if there was something fundamentally wrong with the car, then I think that offers a morale boost to Lewis.

"And I think the next race is quite critical for Lewis because Canada is a place he goes so, so well at. It’s a place he loves. It’s [where he had] his first pole, first win as well. This is Lewis Hamilton’s track. And if he has another downer day like he did in Barcelona, then there’s issues.

"But look, if anyone can do it and turn it around, the seven-time world champion that is Lewis Hamilton can definitely turn it around."

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