Lewis Hamilton Reveals Neck Injury That Hampered Ferrari Debut Season

Posted : 26 June 2026

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a serious neck injury sustained during a Ferrari test session ahead of the 2025 Formula One season left him in pain for several months and disrupted his preparations for his debut campaign with the Italian team.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion disclosed that he crashed heavily during a private test at Circuit de Catalunya in January 2025. The impact caused a damaged disc in his neck, which compressed a nerve and required extensive treatment before he could recover.

Hamilton explained that the injury significantly affected his daily life for around nine weeks. He underwent regular chiropractic sessions and physiotherapy while also relying on pain medication and injections to manage the discomfort. The Briton admitted the recovery was particularly challenging because of the driving position required in a Formula One car.

Although Hamilton did not discuss how much the injury influenced his first season with Ferrari, the revelation provides fresh insight into a campaign that fell short of expectations before his recent resurgence.

The 41-year-old heads into the Austrian Grand Prix in excellent form after claiming his first victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago. The triumph marked the 106th race win of his Formula One career and has reignited speculation about a potential challenge for a record-breaking eighth world championship.

Hamilton, however, dismissed any talk of the title battle, insisting his focus remains on delivering consistent performances rather than looking too far ahead. He said the priority is ensuring every race weekend is executed as smoothly as the team's recent success in Spain, highlighting the importance of strategy, pit stops and teamwork.

The British driver praised Ferrari's progress this season, crediting the collective effort throughout the organisation and the leadership of team principal Fred Vasseur. Hamilton said every member of the team has contributed to the recent improvements, creating a stronger and more unified environment.

He also welcomed Ferrari's continued development programme, noting that recent technical upgrades, including improvements to the power unit, represent another positive step in closing the gap to their rivals. Hamilton stressed that steady progress is essential if the team is to remain competitive over the remainder of the season.

Victory in Spain lifted Hamilton to second place in the Formula One drivers' standings, although he still trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by 41 points as the title race heads to Austria.

Lewis Hamilton Reveals Neck Injury That Hampered Ferrari Debut Season

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