Lewis Hamilton Struggles to Find Form at Ferrari as Difficult 2025 Season Continues
Lewis Hamilton remains determined to reverse his misfortunes after enduring a challenging transition to Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season. The seven-time world champion, who made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to the Scuderia, is still chasing his first podium finish for the Italian team—excluding results from Sprint events. This marks the longest period in his entire Formula 1 career without a top-three result during a regular season.
The adaptation process to Ferrari’s car and internal operations has proven difficult for Hamilton, who is facing one of the most turbulent starts to a campaign since his debut in the sport. The shift from Mercedes to Ferrari has reportedly been a major cultural adjustment for the British driver. Sources close to the team suggest Hamilton has been working hard behind the scenes to offer feedback and suggest improvements, hoping to shape the team’s future direction.
Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton submitted a series of documents to Ferrari personnel, outlining areas where he believed the team could enhance performance. That same weekend, the team rolled out a much-anticipated rear suspension upgrade. Despite those developments, however, the changes did not yield the desired results for the 40-year-old veteran.
In contrast, teammate Charles Leclerc appeared to acclimate far more swiftly to the technical updates. While the Briton suffered a shocking double Q1 elimination at Spa-Francorchamps, Charles Leclerc secured his fifth podium finish of the season—further widening the performance gap between the two Ferrari drivers. Hamilton’s frustrations only deepened at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
During qualifying at the Hungaroring, times were exceptionally tight. Hamilton was eliminated in Q2, missing out by just 0.015 seconds, and had to settle for 12th on the grid. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc clinched his 27th career pole position, outpacing both McLaren drivers and further underlining Ferrari’s contrasting fortunes between its two drivers.
Hamilton reportedly appeared dejected following the session, allegedly referring to himself as “useless” over team radio and hinting that a driver swap might be necessary. The British star is clearly in need of a psychological reset and a boost in self-belief.
Despite the ongoing struggles, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali remains confident in Hamilton’s potential. Speaking trackside before the Hungarian Grand Prix, the former Ferrari team principal shared his belief that Hamilton would regain his form in the second half of the season. Domenicali described Hamilton as a “jewel” of the sport and emphasized that challenging periods are part of an athlete’s journey. He predicted that the veteran driver would soon remind everyone why he is still competing and reaffirmed his view that Lewis Hamilton remains fully committed to chasing his elusive eighth world championship.
Domenicali appeared optimistic that Hamilton’s fortunes would improve after the summer break, pointing to the Briton’s relentless drive and the legacy he aims to cement before retirement.
Hamilton’s Ongoing Struggles Raise Questions Inside and Outside the Paddock
As the 2025 season progresses, speculation continues to grow about what is really holding Hamilton back at Ferrari. The Briton has not hidden the fact that adjusting to Maranello’s unique environment has been far from easy. Ferrari’s car philosophy and operational style differ significantly from what he was accustomed to during his time at Mercedes, and this has placed him at a disadvantage relative to his teammate.
Analyst and former driver Sam Bird pointed out that Hamilton seemed to be battling braking issues during Hungarian qualifying—an ongoing problem that has hampered him throughout the season. Hamilton’s typically aggressive braking style has not suited the SF-25’s characteristics, forcing him to ask for modifications in a bid to regain control and confidence.
Yet some voices within the paddock believe the difficulties are not just technical. There is a growing sentiment that Hamilton himself is not performing at his best, with some suggesting that he is “not firing properly” even when the car shows potential. His struggles with this current generation of Formula 1 machinery have been well documented, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that he is placing his hopes on the 2026 regulation changes to deliver a more competitive package.
In a bid to influence future performance, the Briton has reportedly requested a private meeting with Enrico Gualtieri, Ferrari’s power unit director, to discuss long-term plans for the next generation of Formula 1 cars. With speculation mounting over how many years he has left in the sport, some observers—such as former driver Ralf Schumacher—have even suggested that Hungary may have been a turning point, warning that retirement may be closer than expected if Hamilton cannot recover his form.
The remainder of the 2025 Formula 1 season will be critical for Lewis Hamilton, not only in terms of results but in proving that he can overcome adversity in a new team environment and return to the front of the grid. All eyes will be on whether he can deliver a strong second half of the campaign and silence the growing concerns surrounding his Ferrari tenure.
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