British racing driver Lewis Hamilton remained determined yet visibly disappointed after a tough day of practice at the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, where his Ferrari proved difficult to handle.
Meanwhile, former rival Nico Rosberg questioned whether age was beginning to affect the seven-time world champion’s performance.
Now 40 and in his first season with Ferrari, Hamilton finished 11th in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya.
He bluntly described his car as “not drivable,” though Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur later downplayed the remark, suggesting the radio comments were “a bit exaggerated.”
As Hamilton wrestled with his unpredictable car, Rosberg — the 2016 world champion who famously beat him to the title — commented on Sky Sports F1 that age may be playing a role in Hamilton’s current form.
“Even if he’s the greatest of all time, you do slow down a little with age — and when you’re 40, that’s inevitable,” Rosberg said.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc showed more promise, finishing sixth and saying he was pleasantly surprised by the car’s balance and potential on Friday.
Despite the clear contrast in fortunes, Hamilton refused to appear downbeat. Speaking after the session, he said, “It hasn’t been enjoyable. The location’s stunning, the weather’s perfect, but the day itself wasn’t great.”
When asked if he was drawing on his vast experience to keep the team motivated, Hamilton replied, “I wouldn’t put it that way. You just keep your head down and keep working. You never give up — just keep pushing.”
Rosberg showed some sympathy for his former Mercedes teammate, admitting the Ferrari looked like the most difficult car to handle in the field.
“If we’re talking about the worst car right now, it’s got to be the Ferrari,” he said. “Poor Lewis. The rear is just so loose — you could see he had to completely back off at times just to avoid spinning. I feel for him.”
Hamilton, who holds a record six wins at the Spanish Grand Prix, also addressed recent rumours surrounding a supposed tension with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. On Thursday, he firmly dismissed the speculation.
“There’s been a lot of talk, and most of it’s rubbish,” Hamilton told reporters. “Riccardo’s fantastic to work with. He’s a great guy; we’re both working incredibly hard. The rest is just noise —we’re ignoring it.”
