Lewis Hamilton’s worrying lack of pace at Monaco GP during the recent weekend has drawn more attention than the radio communication problems he experienced, according to former F1 strategist Bernie Collins. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, faced a challenging race in Monaco, finishing a distant fifth nearly 50 seconds behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton’s difficulties started before the race when he received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen, caused by a misunderstanding over whether Verstappen was on a hot lap. The confusion continued during the race, with Hamilton unsure about which drivers he was competing against over team radio. However, Collins pointed out that the slower pace Hamilton displayed in the middle section of the race was more troubling than these communication issues.
Insights on Hamilton’s Pace Problems During the Race
Speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, Bernie Collins expressed surprise at Hamilton’s lack of speed, particularly noting the second pit stop phase where Oscar Piastri managed to pit and exit ahead of Hamilton. This suggested that Hamilton was losing considerable time on track compared to other frontrunners.
I was a bit surprised that at the second pit stop, Lewis had lost enough time that Piastri could box and come out in front of him,
—Bernie Collins, Former F1 Strategist
She highlighted that, with the current regulations, the top five drivers have been pushing harder than in previous races, making Hamilton’s inability to keep pace even more conspicuous.
Lewis just wasn’t able to push and stay with them, which is surprising given how much Lewis loves Monaco. He seemed much more confident than Leclerc was, so that is more worrying for me than the qualifying radio stuff.
—Bernie Collins, Former F1 Strategist
Sky F1 commentator David Croft suggested that Hamilton might have deliberately eased off to support his teammate Leclerc’s position. Collins, however, was unsure of this explanation.
There was no one directly behind Lewis. Lewis was very much on his own in no man’s land in that middle bit,
—Bernie Collins, Former F1 Strategist
Definitely the second half of the race. I am not really sure what went on through then.
—Bernie Collins, Former F1 Strategist
Prospects for Recovery at the Barcelona Grand Prix
After a challenging Monaco weekend, the upcoming race at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona presents an important opportunity for Hamilton to regain competitive form. Historically, Barcelona has been a successful track for Hamilton, where he remained unbeaten between 2017 and 2021 during his time with Mercedes. Even when the team struggled, Hamilton consistently secured podium finishes.
In recent years, Hamilton finished second behind Verstappen in 2023 and earned another podium in 2024. With Lewis currently trailing Leclerc in pace since the China sprint, Barcelona offers a key moment for Hamilton to stabilize his season and mount a stronger challenge.
