Lewis Hamilton explains why 2025 Ferrari struggles highlighted mismatch with ground effect Formula 1 cars
Lewis Hamilton has offered a candid assessment of his challenging 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari, admitting that the final generation of ground-effect cars did not suit his natural driving style and ultimately contributed to one of the most difficult campaigns of his career.
After making the high-profile switch to Ferrari for the final year of the ground-effect regulation era, Lewis Hamilton endured a season that fell short of expectations, failing to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his Formula 1 career. The seven-time world champion also experienced an unprecedented low point when he qualified last on pure pace at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking a rare statistical anomaly in an otherwise historic career.
Although Lewis Hamilton managed to secure a victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race, his overall adaptation to the SF-25 proved problematic. The car’s characteristics, shaped by ground-effect aerodynamics, were fundamentally different from the type of machinery that had previously allowed him to dominate Formula 1, particularly during his years of success with Mercedes.
Throughout the 2025 season, it became increasingly clear that Lewis Hamilton’s driving preferences were not aligned with the behaviour of ground-effect cars. His approach typically relies on aggressive late braking, sharp corner entry, and a “V-shaped” trajectory through corners, allowing for strong acceleration on exit.
However, the ground-effect generation rewarded a contrasting technique, where drivers benefited from earlier braking and smoother cornering arcs, often described as a “U-shaped” driving style. These cars also tended to exhibit persistent understeer and reduced rear-end movement, limiting the feedback that Lewis Hamilton traditionally relies on to extract maximum performance.
Why 2026 Formula 1 cars could better suit Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari
Looking ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton suggested that the new technical regulations, which move away from the current ground-effect philosophy, could provide a more suitable platform for his driving style. The next-generation chassis features aerodynamic characteristics more comparable to earlier eras, including concepts similar to the high-rake designs seen during his most dominant years.
These changes could also benefit Charles Leclerc, who, like Lewis Hamilton, has demonstrated adaptability across different car philosophies but may welcome a platform that offers greater balance and responsiveness, particularly in high-speed cornering and braking zones.
Lewis Hamilton indicated that, had the ground-effect regulations remained in place for another season, his experience and input in developing the Ferrari car from an earlier stage might have produced a more competitive outcome. He suggested that being involved more deeply in the design and evolution of the car could have allowed him to shape it more closely to his driving preferences.
He further explained that his improved mindset and overall satisfaction heading into the 2026 season are influenced not only by the regulatory reset but also by a combination of factors, including the expected drivability improvements of the new cars and the absence of issues like porpoising, which affected previous ground-effect machines.
Ferrari reset offers fresh opportunity for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
With Ferrari entering a new technical era alongside Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the 2026 season represents a significant opportunity for the Scuderia to reset its competitive trajectory. The lessons learned from the difficult 2025 campaign are expected to play a crucial role in shaping a more balanced and driver-friendly car concept.
For Lewis Hamilton, the transition away from ground-effect cars could mark a turning point, allowing him to rediscover the driving confidence and performance consistency that defined much of his Formula 1 career. At the same time, Charles Leclerc remains a key reference point within Ferrari, and the combination of both drivers could prove decisive if the new regulations deliver a car capable of competing at the front.
Ferrari’s success in the new Formula 1 era will depend on how effectively it can translate regulatory changes into on-track performance. If the team manages to align car characteristics with the strengths of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the Scuderia could re-emerge as a consistent contender for victories and championships.
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