Lewis Hamilton has now passed the halfway point in his debut Formula 1 season with Scuderia Ferrari, but the seven-time world champion reportedly remains dissatisfied with several aspects of the team’s operations since his much-anticipated arrival in Maranello.
Ferrari finally secured Hamilton’s services in January 2025 after an 11-month wait, having first announced his signing back in February 2024. His decision to leave Mercedes after over a decade prompted the departure of Carlos Sainz, who later confirmed a switch to Williams for the 2025 F1 season.
Since his high-profile move and the beginning of his lucrative £39 million per year contract with Ferrari—valid through the end of 2026—Hamilton has endured a challenging campaign. From the opening 13 Grands Prix and three Sprint races, he has accumulated just 109 points, placing him sixth in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, an event he has historically dominated with a record eight wins.
While Charles Leclerc, his Ferrari teammate, has delivered five podium finishes this season—including a strong P3 at the Belgian Grand Prix—Hamilton has yet to step onto the rostrum while wearing the red overalls of the Scuderia. In Belgium, the British driver recovered from a pit lane start to secure seventh place, but the wait for a true breakthrough result continues.
Amid this context, former F1 technical director Gary Anderson has voiced concern over Hamilton’s approach to driving change within the Ferrari organisation. The British engineer, who previously held senior roles at Jordan and Jaguar, believes the seven-time Formula 1 world champion made a misstep by emailing a list of requests and improvement suggestions to Ferrari personnel. These documents reportedly included his views on areas where the team should focus for 2025, considerations ahead of the sweeping 2026 regulation changes, and even structural revisions to internal team processes.
Lewis Hamilton’s critique also reportedly included comparisons between how Ferrari currently operate and the systems in place at Mercedes, where he achieved six of his seven world titles.
Anderson suggested that even Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher had not gone as far as pushing for internal restructuring during his time helping Ferrari rebuild in the late 1990s and early 2000s. What particularly unsettled Anderson was the medium Hamilton used to deliver his feedback. He argued that such matters should be handled face-to-face in meetings rather than through emails or written memos.
According to Gary Anderson, drivers trying to help their teams improve should engage in live discussions with the relevant engineers and team leaders. He pointed out that in-person communication allows for open, honest dialogue and encourages mutual understanding. He also warned that written communication could unintentionally create misunderstandings, as tone and intention can often be misread—something that could prove damaging to team dynamics, particularly for a new arrival like Lewis Hamilton who still needs to cement strong internal relationships.
Anderson emphasized that building trust and cohesion within a Formula 1 team is essential, and that all members of the squad need to feel aligned and motivated to work together toward shared objectives. In his view, written suggestions—especially on such sensitive topics—might hinder that process rather than support it.
Despite the criticism, Lewis Hamilton’s attention to detail and desire to contribute constructively cannot be dismissed. Ever since he set foot in Maranello, he has reportedly documented observations and concerns in a personal notebook. These records formed the basis for the feedback he began sending to Ferrari staff early in the 2025 season. The documents aim to provide solutions and detailed insights based on his vast experience at the top level of motorsport.
In addition to his written memos, the Briton is said to play a highly active role during Ferrari’s engineering debriefs, both before and after each Grand Prix. His deep dives into telemetry, strategy, and setup discussions have reportedly become a frequent source of tension—particularly for teammate Charles Leclerc, who is believed to be frustrated by the amount of time Hamilton dominates in technical meetings.
Nevertheless, the British driver remains committed to turning his Ferrari project into a success. His efforts to pinpoint inefficiencies and recommend strategic changes demonstrate the same work ethic and determination that have made him one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.
Whether Lewis Hamilton’s highly analytical and hands-on approach will ultimately yield results at Ferrari remains to be seen. However, as the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season gets underway, it is clear that the veteran driver is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of performance and competitiveness with the Prancing Horse.
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