F1 | Ferrari – Lewis Hamilton: what’s not working in the fans’ most anticipated partnership. Lewis Hamilton’s first half-season at Ferrari has been challenging.

The long-awaited spark between Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton has yet to ignite. Here’s an in-depth look at the reasons behind the challenges.

Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start with Ferrari

The first half of Lewis Hamilton’s season with Ferrari has fallen far short of fans’ expectations. The seven-time world champion, after an encouraging start in China with pole position and a Sprint race victory, faced a harsh reality check. The technical disqualification of both Ferrari cars at the Shanghai Grand Prix marked the beginning of a challenging period, characterized by struggles, self-criticism, and limited competitiveness.

Lewis Hamilton ended the first part of the season with candid remarks in Hungary: “I was useless, I drove terribly.” Looking at the numbers, the British driver has an average qualifying gap of only 0.146 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, which narrows to just 0.078 seconds from the Imola Grand Prix onward. This indicates that the adaptation process, though slow and complex, is gradually taking place.

The technical challenge: finding the right feeling with the SF-25

The central issue remains Hamilton’s relationship with the SF-25. He struggles particularly under braking and at corner entry, where the car does not provide the stability his aggressive driving style requires. The current philosophy of F1 car design – low, stiff chassis with ground effect – does not fully complement Hamilton’s ability to maximize performance in the entry phase. Ferrari has introduced updates to the floor and suspension, which Charles Leclerc described as positive, but these improvements still do not seem to “speak the same technical language” with Lewis Hamilton.

Age and experience: a factor but not the only one

Another element to consider is age. At 40, doubts inevitably arise. Former world champion Damon Hill explained that the fatigue accumulated over 19 consecutive seasons without breaks weighs as heavily as competing alongside a fast teammate like Charles Leclerc. However, attributing all the difficulties to age would be unfair. Lewis Hamilton remains competitive and could regain his edge under the 2026 regulations, when flat floors similar to those that previously highlighted his talent will return.

The path ahead

For now, the reality is that Lewis Hamilton is still searching for the key to unlock the Ferrari project. The coming months will reveal whether this is just a temporary adjustment phase or the first real sign of time catching up with a seven-time world champion.