Remember when Lewis Hamilton used to care who won races? Those were the days. Now he’s so busy wrestling uncooperative Ferrari machinery at the back of the grid that race results apparently pass him by completely. The seven-time world champion admitted post-race in Qatar he “had no idea” Max Verstappen had won. Brilliant.
When you’re scrapping for 18th instead of first, the podium becomes rather abstract, doesn’t it? Hamilton spent his Qatar weekend complaining about his car, finishing outside the points, and generally looking like someone who’d rather be anywhere else. So when journalists asked his thoughts on the title fight heading to Abu Dhabi, his response was comedy gold.
When Being Irrelevant Means Missing Everything
The moment Hamilton discovered Verstappen’s victory was priceless. Asked about the championship standings showing Lando Norris just 12 points ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton looked genuinely baffled.
“How’s Max 12 behind now? Max won? Oh, shoot, I didn’t know, I had no idea. Wow, holy s**t. No, no, I thought Piastri won, I don’t know.” – Lewis Hamilton
There it is. Seven titles, 105 race wins, and the man’s so far off the pace he doesn’t even know who’s crossed the line first. This is what Ferrari’s nightmare season has reduced him to. A driver so disconnected from the front of the field he might as well be racing in a different series.
Hamilton then had to be walked through the entire result like a confused spectator. Norris finished fourth? Really? Where did Piastri end up? The shock on his face when learning Carlos Sainz grabbed the final podium spot must have been something to behold.
“So Oscar’s third now? Goes right to the wire!” – Lewis Hamilton
Yes, Lewis. Things happened at the front whilst you were touring around in 18th wondering why your Ferrari felt like a shopping trolley.
The Awkward Compliments Nobody Asked For
Once Hamilton realised his former title rival had just pulled off another miracle, he defaulted to diplomatic mode. You know, that thing drivers do when they’re trying desperately not to sound bitter about their own irrelevance.
“Well, we all know Max does a great job. I think he’s got a phenomenal team behind him, which there’s no denying they’ve had the best car over the last four years. And maybe less so at the beginning of this year, but they somehow came back.” – Lewis Hamilton
How generous. Verstappen’s won because he has a good car. Nothing to do with the fact he’s clawed back a 104-point deficit through sheer bloody-minded determination whilst McLaren imploded strategically. Nothing to do with capitalising on McLaren’s safety car disaster when others would have settled for third.
Hamilton’s praise feels rather hollow coming from someone who can’t even make it out of Q1 three times in a row. Easy to compliment others when you’re not competing against them anymore, isn’t it?
From Title Contender to Oblivious Bystander
The contrast couldn’t be starker. In 2021, Hamilton and Verstappen fought one of the most intense championship battles in modern F1 history. Every tenth mattered. Every decision was scrutinised. The tension was palpable.
Four years later, Hamilton’s finishing races without even knowing who won. He’s gone from title protagonist to confused observer faster than Ferrari abandoned their 2025 development programme. Which, as team principal Fred Vasseur admitted, happened back in April. Seven months of racing a car they’d already given up on. No wonder Hamilton’s lost the plot.
The British driver claimed afterwards he couldn’t see the race unfolding because there weren’t enough screens trackside. Which is a lovely excuse except every other driver somehow managed to keep track of proceedings. Perhaps they were paying attention? Just a thought.
The 2026 Excuse Already Warming Up
Hamilton made sure to mention the regulation changes coming next season, suggesting better racing lies ahead. Because when your current season’s an absolute disaster, might as well start hyping next year, right? It’s the Ferrari way. Always has been.
The problem? Hamilton will be 40 when those new regulations arrive. He’s getting demolished by Charles Leclerc now. What makes anyone think adding more complexity and new technical challenges will somehow reverse his fortunes? Hope springs eternal at Maranello, apparently.
When Your Rival’s Comeback Passes You By
The most embarrassing aspect? Verstappen’s championship resurrection has been the dominant narrative for weeks. Everyone’s been talking about it. Analysing it. Debating whether he can actually pull off the impossible.
Hamilton missed all of it. Too busy having sleepless nights until 6am wondering what he can do to improve. Too focused on serving his engineers better. Too consumed by his own struggles to notice the Dutchman mounting one of F1’s great comebacks.
When international media crowned Verstappen “The Terminator” for his relentless pursuit of Norris, Hamilton was presumably staring at data trying to work out why he’s three-tenths slower than his teammate in identical machinery.
The championship battle heads to Abu Dhabi with Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri separated by just 16 points. It’s shaping up to be a thriller. And Hamilton? He’ll be somewhere at the back, probably wondering who won until someone tells him hours later.
When did Ferrari’s great saviour become F1’s most clueless spectator?
