Jenson Button has publicly defended Lewis Hamilton following a challenging weekend at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the seven-time Formula 1 world champion experienced one of the most difficult weekends of his Ferrari career. The race in Nevada marked the first time in Lewis Hamilton’s 19-year F1 career that he qualified last on outright pace, an unusual setback for a driver of his calibre.

Lewis Hamilton struggled during the qualifying session in Las Vegas, hampered by confusion over whether he had crossed the start/finish line in time to attempt a final flying lap in Q1. Wet and tricky conditions compounded the problem, leaving the 40-year-old at the back of the grid. Despite the poor qualifying result, Lewis Hamilton initially fought his way through the field during the 50-lap race, demonstrating his racecraft and determination in the early stages.

However, a crucial pit stop from the hard to the medium Pirelli tyres saw Lewis Hamilton’s performance drop significantly. He became stuck behind Nico Hulkenberg, unable to pass, and crossed the finish line in tenth place. Post-race, he was promoted to eighth following the exclusion of the two McLaren cars. Even with the adjustment, the result was far below expectations for the 105-time Grand Prix winner and 104-time polesitter.

Hamilton appeared visibly dejected during his post-race media duties, describing the weekend as “terrible” and labelling 2025 as his “worst season ever” in Formula 1. The reaction drew attention across the paddock, prompting discussion about the mental strain of his first year with Ferrari and the pressures of adapting to the SF-25.

Jenson Button offers perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s struggles

When asked whether the disappointing Las Vegas result was a consequence of Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying issues, Jenson Button agreed but was quick to defend his former McLaren teammate. Jenson Button highlighted Hamilton’s professionalism and resilience throughout the 2025 season, noting that the British driver had carried himself well despite the unusual difficulties he faced in Maranello.

Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, explained that this weekend appeared to affect Lewis Hamilton more than previous setbacks, suggesting that the Ferrari driver’s frustration had been magnified by a string of challenging races. The former McLaren driver remarked that Lewis Hamilton’s mental resilience would allow him to recover from the Las Vegas disappointment and that the performance dip was unlikely to define the remainder of his season.

The 15-time Grand Prix winner emphasised that Lewis Hamilton is particularly skilled at rebounding from underwhelming weekends. He noted that although the Las Vegas result was tough, it was likely an isolated incident rather than a sign of deeper issues within Ferrari’s 2025 campaign. Button expressed confidence that Lewis Hamilton could learn from the experience and perform strongly in the upcoming races.

Overall, Jenson Button’s assessment provided reassurance to Lewis Hamilton fans, framing the Las Vegas GP as a temporary setback rather than a reflection of the British driver’s talent or ability to adapt to Ferrari. While the weekend in Nevada was challenging, Jenson Button believes his former teammate’s skill, experience, and determination will allow him to regain momentum and continue fighting at the sharp end of the grid alongside Charles Leclerc.