Lewis Hamilton joined Scuderia Ferrari with the expectation that he was stepping into a team on the verge of ending a 17-year title drought. The team had just finished a narrow 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings, a margin that highlighted how close they were to the top. Despite the final gap being agonizingly small, Ferrari had been the highest-scoring team in the final 10 races of the 2024 season. This impressive streak included victories by Charles Leclerc in Italy and the United States, as well as a win by Carlos Sainz in Mexico, signaling a period of strong performance. As a result, it seemed like the perfect time for Hamilton to join the team. However, after five races in 2025, Ferrari has dropped to fourth place in the standings.
This situation has been a recurring theme for Ferrari since their last championship win in 2008—getting close, only to fall short once again. Although they are only 11 points behind Red Bull, a team that seems to operate almost like a one-car unit in modern F1, any hopes of a title are quickly fading. Ferrari’s current performance is a stark contrast to the potential they showed in 2024, leaving many to question the path they have taken since.
Ferrari’s Decision to Overhaul the F1 Car Before Hamilton’s Arrival
At the beginning of the 2025 season, Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, stated that the car would be “99% new,” with the most significant change being a shift from a pull-rod to a push-rod front suspension. In retrospect, this decision has not paid off. While upgrades may still bring consistent podium finishes and occasional victories, it is increasingly unlikely that Ferrari will be able to surpass McLaren, especially after a relatively successful 2024 campaign. It could be argued that only minor adjustments would have been necessary for the team, but instead, they opted for a drastic change.
Given this, the Bruton, who joined Ferrari with high expectations, should be questioning why the team abandoned the previous successful formula. Even Charles Leclerc, who has been notably quicker, has voiced his frustrations, stating that the car is difficult to handle. According to Laurence Edmondson on the ESPN Unlapped podcast, Charles Leclerc’s remarks following the Saudi Arabian race were telling. The ESPN F1 reporter mentioned that despite his efforts to adjust the car’s setup to his driving style, including setting it up to understeer or oversteer, he still managed only a fourth-place qualifying position, which left him frustrated. This situation reflects a car that is fundamentally lacking in performance, particularly in downforce, when compared to its rivals.
The Ferrari SF-25’s Struggles and the Comparison to Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes Era
When Hamilton is comfortable with his car, he can still deliver world-class performances. This was evident just last month, when he secured pole position in the Shanghai Sprint. He also demonstrated his ability to perform when Mercedes were in contention for wins during his final season there. Had he been driving the Ferrari of late 2024, it’s possible that his results would have been closer to those of Charles Leclerc. However, the reality is that Hamilton is struggling to extract performance from the SF-25, and this is an issue that mirrors what Michael Schumacher faced during his comeback with Mercedes.
Back then, Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn admitted that the car did not suit Michael Schumacher’s driving style, and conversely, Schumacher was not the ideal fit for the car. This comparison seems to echo Hamilton’s current situation, as he grapples with the challenges of adapting to the Ferrari SF-25, a car that doesn’t seem to unlock its full potential despite numerous efforts. Just like Michael Schumacher, the seven-time F1 world champion finds himself in a position where he is unsure how to make the car perform to its best ability, leaving both the team and its star driver in an uncertain position for the rest of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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