In a brutally honest and emotional reflection on the current state of Formula 1, 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg has spoken out about Lewis Hamilton’s turbulent debut season with Scuderia Ferrari, describing it as “a very dark situation” and “hard to watch” for fans of the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, hailed last year as the biggest transfer shock in modern F1 history, was expected to reignite the legacy of the sport’s most iconic team. But just seven races into the 2025 season, things have gone catastrophically off course.
Hamilton, who left Mercedes after over a decade of unparalleled success, has found himself in what many are now calling a “crimson nightmare.” He currently languishes in 12th place in the Drivers\’ Championship standings, having failed to score a podium and finishing outside the points in four races — a streak unseen since his rookie year in 2007.
Rosberg: “It’s Painful”
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 following the Monaco Grand Prix, Rosberg didn’t hold back his concern.
“It’s painful to watch Lewis like this,” Rosberg said. “You look at a driver of his caliber — a man who’s broken almost every record, who dominated the sport — now stuck in what looks like a hopeless situation at Ferrari. It’s almost tragic.”
Rosberg, who knows Hamilton’s strengths and psychology intimately from their time as teammates and fierce rivals at Mercedes, suggested that even Hamilton’s legendary mental resilience is being tested.
“He’s not smiling anymore. The spark isn’t there. The radio messages are short, flat, frustrated. That’s not the Lewis we know. It’s like watching a lion in a cage made of carbon fibre and broken promises.”
Ferrari in Freefall
The SF25, Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, was promoted as “a new era of innovation,” but insiders have begun referring to it as a “disaster in red.” Issues with rear grip, unpredictable tire degradation, and a baffling inability to extract pace in qualifying have left both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc publicly voicing their frustration.
At the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton qualified 15th after a chaotic session that saw his car suffer power unit glitches and erratic downforce loss. Leclerc, despite managing to drag the car to P7, was later hit with a time penalty for an unsafe release — Ferrari’s third pit lane blunder in two races.
A Broken Dream
Hamilton’s dream of emulating his hero Ayrton Senna by winning in red at Monza is becoming increasingly remote. The tifosi — once electric with anticipation — are now beginning to turn. Social media is ablaze with criticism. Hashtags like #FerrariFail and #HamiltonMistake have been trending weekly. Even within the paddock, murmurs suggest Hamilton may already be regretting the switch.
One senior F1 engineer, speaking anonymously, said:
“It’s worse behind the scenes than people know. The car is unpredictable, the development path is lost, and the team is divided. It’s a political maze. Lewis is stuck in something no driver — not even him — can fix overnight.”
Where Does Hamilton Go From Here?
Hamilton, known for his calm demeanor and strong public front, has remained measured in interviews. After the Monaco race, he told reporters:
“This isn’t the start we hoped for, but we keep working. Ferrari is still a legendary team. We’re not giving up.”
But many are questioning whether that optimism is genuine — or merely the reflex of a driver who has never had to endure a season this bleak.
Rosberg added a chilling final note in his broadcast:
“I truly hope it turns around, but right now? It’s like watching greatness sink in slow motion. For a legend like Lewis, this is a very dark chapter — maybe the darkest.”
A Legacy at Risk?
As the F1 circus moves on to the Canadian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Hamilton — not just to see whether he can claw back points, but to witness whether his partnership with Ferrari can survive what is fast becoming a catastrophic season.
The F1 world has seen many fall from grace, but few with such a sharp contrast as this. For Hamilton, a man once feared in every mirror and every race, the question now is painfully simple: is the dream over before it ever truly began?
