P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton reveals Ferrari issue caused loss of downforce in Spain F1 practice
Lewis Hamilton hinted at facing downforce issues with his Ferrari F1 car during Friday practice at the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite a strong FP1, Hamilton struggled in the more crucial second practice session, finishing 11th. The seven-time world champion has historically performed well at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. Hamilton had a winning streak in Spain from 2017 to 2021 and even secured podium finishes in 2023 and 2024 with Mercedes.
Reflecting on the challenging Friday practice, Hamilton described it as “not a good day.” He emphasized the need for the team to keep pushing and stay focused on resolving the issues faced. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fared better than Hamilton, setting the fifth-quickest time in FP2. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur admitted they struggled more in the afternoon session. Overall, both drivers and teams acknowledged the challenges faced during practice and aimed to work on improvements for the upcoming sessions.
