Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari hasn’t gotten off to the best start. The seven-time World Champion is struggling to find the right feeling with the SF-25. According to one of his former team principals, there are mainly three factors affecting his performance.
Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari, the arrival of the seven-time World Champion in Maranello for the first time was eagerly awaited by millions of fans, and expectations for 2025 were very high. So far, Lewis Hamilton has managed to claim only one victory in the Sprint race in China and a podium, also in a Sprint, in Miami. What is this duo missing to find the right chemistry? According to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, there are especially three key factors influencing his performance.
Toto Wolff’s statements
Toto Wolff spoke on the Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast and commented on the start of Lewis Hamilton’s season. According to the team principal, there are several elements affecting his performance at Ferrari: “Just by changing teams, you don’t suddenly lose your abilities. Everyone needs a period of adaptation – different car, different DNA in how the car works, a new team of engineers you need to work with. Then you have to be involved in the ongoing development of the car so that it fits your driving style.” Toto Wolff added: “It’s a fully Italian team and he’s a British guy parachuted into it. And that takes time.”
According to Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton only needs time before he can fully express his talent with Ferrari as well. The Mercedes team principal reiterated: “He needs to find his edge again, and the second half of the season has always been very strong for him.” Wolff is convinced and warns: “Don’t count Lewis Hamilton out.”
The relationship with Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes after 12 seasons, but this hasn’t affected his relationship with Toto Wolff. Still on the Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast, the team principal explained how his friendship with the seven-time World Champion has evolved: “We’re still friends. We made a promise to each other that we’d remain friends.” – he pointed out.
Ferrari and Mercedes are fighting for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, but what happens on track won’t damage the friendship between Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton. Toto Wolff was clear: “We’re fighting hard on track, no gloves, because we have to fight for our respective teams – and that’s the kind of rule we have. But off the track, we spend time together, travel together, and I don’t want to lose the friend I’ve had for so many years.” – the Austrian concluded.
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