Damon Hill issues a two-word verdict on Ferrari’s Imola qualifying performance as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggle

Ferrari are quickly reaching a tipping point this season after another troubling qualifying session at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

For the first time in Ferrari’s history, neither of their drivers will start in the top 10 of a Formula 1 race at Imola.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failed to improve their final times in Q2, creating an agonising wait as they watched the final cars cross the line, ultimately demoting them into the drop zone.

Williams are benefiting from the arrival of Carlos Sainz, who after beating both Ferraris in Miami will start ahead of his former team again at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

What will be even more concerning for Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is that both Aston Martins, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were all faster than his drivers.

Jacques Villeneuve was unimpressed with Ferrari’s qualifying tactics, failing to use the medium tyres which appeared to be the quicker option.

Bernie Collins has been left concerned by Hamilton’s radio messages since joining Ferrari, but it was Leclerc’s reaction to his Q2 exit that was particularly telling.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fail to impress as Ferrari’s woes continue at Imola

Speaking in his official press conference after the race, Leclerc declared, “On a technical track like this one, everything has to be perfect, and today it showed.

“It’s disappointing, not just for us, but also for our Tifosi who come here to support us with so much passion.”

Hamilton followed up on his teammate’s assessment and said, “A tough one today. The car felt good overall, but we just didn’t have the grip we needed on the final lap in Q2 and that cost us.”

F1 world champion Damon Hill was assessing what happened in qualifying, highlighting Oscar Piastri’s ‘convincing’ pole position on Instagram.

In response to Leclerc and Hamilton’s statements on Ferrari’s record-breaking qualifying at Imola, Hill simply said on his Instagram story, ‘Difficult day’.

The last time neither Ferrari driver started in the top 10 of a Formula 1 race was the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were the Scuderia drivers that weekend and both ended up retiring from the race as Gasly went on to take his only career F1 victory.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Lewis Hamilton told the change he ‘needs’ to make by Guenther Steiner at Ferrari

Hamilton has an incredibly tough task at Ferrari this season as he tries to close the gap to Leclerc.

The Monegasque driver has been a part of the Ferrari family for more than half of his life, and he will have a much better feel for the SF-25 than his teammate, even if the car is underperforming.

Guenther Steiner has told Hamilton the change he needs to make at Ferrari, but any personal issues the seven-time world champion is having are being overshadowed by how poor the car is.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali has told Ferrari what’s needed to fix the team after their struggles at Imola.

His previous experience as Ferrari’s team principal gives him a unique insight into the challenges that Vasseur is currently facing.

Ferrari aren’t expected to decide whether to switch focus to 2026 until the Belgian Grand Prix, however, sessions like Saturday’s qualifying fiasco might force them to change their mind.