IF YOU ONLY KNEW HOW TO WATCH A GRAND PRIX

Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Monaco has reignited the debate that’s followed him ever since he put on Ferrari red. The final gap—over 51 seconds—was enough for many to hurl harsh criticism and definitive judgments, but once again, people stopped at the raw number without trying to understand what’s behind it.

It’s true that the initial impact of the seven-time world champion at Ferrari hasn’t been overwhelming. But it’s equally true that for some time now, statistics have been used like weapons—picked up only when they help prove a point. A segment of Ferrari fans immediately threw their support behind him. Another, however, seems to be waiting for the smallest misstep to question his presence. And when the undisputed favorite is Charles Leclerc, internal comparisons become a minefield.

It was to be expected: the rivalry between Charles and Lewis would grab attention from the start. But the reality is that, beyond expectations, the SF-25 is not the car many had hoped for. So instead of fighting for wins, the team is battling for placements. And as the excitement over the internal duel fades, the frustration grows over a season that already risks being labeled yet another missed opportunity.

And yet, before condemning, maybe we should just watch the races. Not stop at final times or some chart shared in a viral post. In Monaco, for instance, Hamilton didn’t seem to struggle at all. Quite the opposite. Leclerc has always been the benchmark there—just remember his 2021 pole—but Lewis, after a complicated weekend and a car rebuilt from scratch after the crash at the Casino, qualified just three-tenths behind his teammate, with only one set of fresh tires in Q3. Fourth place. Hardly a failure.

During the race, things quickly got complicated. A penalty, starting from seventh, and two tough opponents ahead in Hadjar and Alonso. The first 17 seconds of gap to Norris came right in that early phase. Then came the pit stop: Hamilton was the first among the front-runners to switch to a second set of hards. Initially, it brought him back within reach of Verstappen, but traffic ruined the strategy. Colapinto, Bortoleto, and others slowed him down, while the leaders managed to clear the backmarkers with ease. The gap to Norris doubled in just a few laps.

And then there’s strategy management. Ferrari gave him a target time to stretch the stint. It was a cautious approach—arguably too cautious—that effectively ruled out any attempt to put pressure on those ahead. All of this is well-documented, reported by major motorsport outlets. But too often, it gets ignored in favor of easier, quicker criticism.

Does Hamilton deserve criticism? Maybe, like anyone. But it should be fair, based on what actually happens on track—not just what the stopwatch says. Because if we look at the real numbers, we find that since Leclerc joined Ferrari, no teammate has ever been as close to him in average qualifying gap as Lewis has been in these opening races.

Hard to believe, right? And yet, it’s true. But in an era where everything gets simplified, it’s easier to write him off as a washed-up driver than to actually analyze what’s going on. A shame. Because truly watching the races would already be a solid first step toward understanding things better.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

Race Frame