Lewis Hamilton has revealed he will race with a neck injury at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The seven-time world champion British driver undertook a three-day private test program with the SF-23 in Barcelona in January 2025 in preparation for his first season with Ferrari; however, he crashed hard into a wall on the second day and damaged one of the discs in his neck.<\/p>\n
Hamilton recounted the events at a press conference before the Austrian Grand Prix: \u201cLast year I hit the wall very hard during testing. I dislocated one of the discs in my neck, which was pressing on a nerve. For about nine weeks I could barely do anything. I went to a chiropractor every day, I was physically challenged every day, I couldn\u2019t sleep. I took painkillers, I got injections, I did everything I could to fix it. It\u2019s not easy living with that in the driver\u2019s seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton, 41, finished the 2025 season without a podium finish, a result he suffered while sidelined by injury. He finished sixth, 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, his worst performance in 19 F1 seasons.<\/p>\n
Hamilton made these remarks after securing his first victory in a Ferrari uniform at the previous race, the Barcelona Grand Prix. This win, his 31st attempt, signals a more competitive period for him with the new Ferrari, a team whose development he has contributed to.<\/p>\n
As of the Austrian weekend, Hamilton is 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli and nine points ahead of third-placed George Russell. Russell described Hamilton as a "big threat" in the championship fight.<\/p>\n
However, Hamilton emphasized that he wasn't aiming for the championship: "I don't think I'm competing for the championship. I came to Austria and I want to win this weekend, that's my only goal. I've spent the whole week preparing for it. I haven't even gone out to eat. You make the sacrifices you need to make to come here 100% ready."\u201c<\/p>\n