Hamilton skips Ferrari test as Verstappen clinches victory with Ferrari.
"It’s a humiliation"
29 September 2025 - 13:19
Lewis Hamilton's challenging first season with Ferrari has been contrasted with Max Verstappen's remarkable GT3 debut weekend in a Ferrari at the Nurburgring. While the Dutch driver achieved a 24-second victory at the Nordschleife in a Ferrari GT3, Hamilton stayed home to care for his ill bulldog Roscoe, who he disclosed on Instagram is in a coma due to pneumonia. Consequently, the seven-time champion missed Ferrari's Pirelli 2026 tyre test at Mugello, where he was substituted by Guanyu Zhou alongside Charles Leclerc. "It’s a humiliation," stated the Cologne tabloid Express. "Verstappen is more likely to succeed in the Ferrari than Hamilton." Italy’s Corriere della Sera reported: "Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton announced on Instagram that his cherished 12-year-old bulldog is in a coma from a new episode of pneumonia. He will miss a Pirelli test with Ferrari." Former driver Marc Surer expressed his surprise at Hamilton’s difficulties with Ferrari in an interview with Austrian magazine Vollgas. "I thought he would continue to excel thanks to his experience. But that’s not happening," said the 74-year-old. "Lewis Hamilton is simply a spoiled brat who has always driven the best cars. If the car suits him, he wins effortlessly. However, when he doesn’t have the fastest car, he faces challenges." Surer drew a comparison between Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, stating that Alonso "can adapt to compromises and maximize the potential of every car." He noted that Hamilton’s difficulties are not entirely unexpected given his recent performance. "He’s already experienced a tough time alongside George Russell these past two years. Now at Ferrari, he has an exceptionally fast teammate in Charles Leclerc."
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