Lewis Hamilton Faces Doubts from Within Ferrari as Former Driver Claims Most Insiders Opposed His Signing
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton heads into the Formula 1 summer break following the Hungarian Grand Prix with a clear understanding that the challenge ahead remains steep. While the Scuderia sits second in the Constructors’ Championship—just as they did at this point last season—the deeper context paints a far more concerning picture.
Although Ferrari were narrowly behind McLaren at the end of the previous campaign, trailing Andrea Stella’s team by just 14 points, the 2025 season tells a different story. With ten race weekends still remaining on the calendar, Ferrari are already a staggering 299 points behind McLaren. It is a gap that seems almost insurmountable for a team aiming to break its long-standing title drought, which stretches back to 2008.
Neither Charles Leclerc nor Lewis Hamilton has secured a Grand Prix victory so far this year. The seven-time world champion’s only win came in the Chinese Sprint Race early in the season, offering little comfort in what has otherwise been a deeply frustrating campaign.
Despite Lewis Hamilton’s private show of support for Charles Leclerc after the Hungarian Grand Prix, his public remarks raised concerns. He had suggested during the weekend that Ferrari should consider a driver change due to his own lacklustre performances—comments that reflected his growing frustration with the situation.
Hamilton had undertaken an intense pre-season training program to prepare for his debut in red, but the reality of life at Maranello has proven to be more complex. According to former Ferrari driver Arturo Merzario, the move to sign Hamilton may not have had universal support within the team.
Arturo Merzario Claims Most Ferrari Insiders Opposed Hamilton’s Arrival
Arturo Merzario, who raced for Ferrari in the early 1970s and later drove for teams including Williams and March, recently commented on Hamilton’s performance and the broader sentiment surrounding his signing. Speaking with Gazzetta dello Sport, Merzario reportedly viewed Hamilton’s recent remarks as somewhat ironic and suggested that the British driver seemed emotionally worn down by his experience at Ferrari.
Merzario stated that, in his opinion, Lewis Hamilton’s recruitment had been driven primarily by commercial interests rather than sporting considerations. He claimed that around 90% of Ferrari’s internal personnel were not in favor of the signing. According to him, such internal disagreement can significantly affect a driver’s sense of belonging and motivation.
He explained that when a driver does not feel like an integral part of a team’s mission, the drive to push for small gains—such as shaving off a few tenths of a second per lap—can quickly dissipate. Merzario did not believe that Hamilton was past his prime, but rather that the veteran was biding his time and would only take risks when there was something meaningful to gain. In his view, Hamilton was not motivated to push to the limit for an eighth-place finish, and if he ever chose to leave Ferrari, he would have no trouble finding another team interested in his services.
Merzario contrasted Hamilton’s situation with that of Leclerc, suggesting that while the Monegasque driver still had to prove himself as a true champion, Hamilton had already secured his legacy in Formula 1.
Toto Wolff Offers His Support for Hamilton Post-Mercedes
Throughout the turmoil of his first season at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has continued to receive unwavering support from his former team principal at Mercedes, Toto Wolff. The pair formed one of the most dominant partnerships in F1 history, particularly during the hybrid era. However, Hamilton’s performance dipped in the new ground-effect era, as Mercedes struggled to produce a car that suited his driving style.
Despite not having reached the podium in a Grand Prix this season, Hamilton has refrained from placing blame on Ferrari’s technical leadership. According to Toto Wolff, both Hamilton and Leclerc have been openly dissatisfied with the SF-25, but Hamilton remains focused on the long-term goals. Wolff, who remains one of Hamilton’s staunchest allies in the paddock, defended his former driver by emphasizing his mental strength and loyalty to the team, even during tough times.
At the same time, Ferrari’s issues were further highlighted in Hungary when Charles Leclerc appeared to be on course for a potential win, only to be struck by a mysterious problem in the final stint that dropped him out of podium contention. It was another missed opportunity for a team struggling to extract consistent performance from its car.
Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi also weighed in on Hamilton’s recent comments, suggesting that they were inappropriate and unlikely to have ever been made by Michael Schumacher during his time with the Scuderia. Alesi’s remarks highlighted the intense scrutiny that comes with racing for Ferrari, especially for a figure as high-profile as Hamilton.
Ferrari’s Hopes for a Stronger Second Half of the Season
As the summer break begins, Ferrari’s leadership and fanbase alike are hoping that the Briton will return revitalized and ready to tackle the final ten race weekends of the 2025 season. The focus now shifts toward preparing a more competitive package for 2026, when new technical regulations will offer all teams a fresh start.
Whether Lewis Hamilton can help bring Ferrari back to winning ways remains to be seen, but it is clear that both internal expectations and public pressure are mounting. The final stretch of the season may not only shape Ferrari’s championship hopes but also the long-term viability of their high-profile investment in one of the sport’s greatest-ever drivers.
Leave a Reply