Lewis Hamilton has been fully dedicated to steering Scuderia Ferrari in the right direction ever since making his high-profile switch from Mercedes during the winter break. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion arrived at Maranello with a clear mission: to help rebuild Ferrari into a title-contending powerhouse and, in doing so, secure what would be a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship.
Despite a noticeable mid-season dip in form, Scuderia Ferrari have managed to retain their position as the second-strongest team in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship standings as the season approaches its halfway mark. While the performance gap to McLaren and Red Bull has fluctuated across circuits, Ferrari’s resilience has allowed them to hold on to second place—a clear sign that progress is being made under the leadership of team principal Frédéric Vasseur, and with Lewis Hamilton’s growing influence in the development process.
As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, increasing attention is being drawn toward the upcoming 2026 regulation changes. These new rules are expected to significantly alter car architecture and engine dynamics, and Lewis Hamilton is hopeful that the shift will open up an opportunity to once again challenge for the world title. For Ferrari, the stakes are just as high. If the team fails to clinch the crown this season, the 2026 campaign would mark an 18-year drought since their last championship triumph in 2008 with Kimi Räikkönen. Bringing that streak to an end would be a monumental achievement, especially with the Briton leading the charge.
Internally, Ferrari have been working hard to tailor the SF-25 to Lewis Hamilton’s driving preferences. Acting team principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio—filling in during Frédéric Vasseur’s brief absence—reportedly indicated that the British driver has been encountering the majority of his difficulties during race conditions, rather than over one lap in qualifying trim. Ferrari engineers are said to have pinpointed Hamilton’s main problem, which has hindered his race-day consistency and overall competitiveness throughout the early part of the campaign.
However, it appears that not every development on the SF-25 has been beneficial for the 40-year-old veteran. A new rear suspension upgrade is reportedly in the pipeline, one that could potentially increase instability under braking—an area that may not suit Hamilton’s smoother, more progressive driving style. This warning comes as Ferrari continue to experiment with aerodynamic and mechanical changes in a bid to expand the car’s setup window and overall adaptability.
Encouragingly for Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari took a significant step forward at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. The team’s performance at the Red Bull Ring marked not only their second-best race result of the season but arguably the most promising in terms of long-term trajectory. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished inside the top four on Sunday, and Ferrari’s latest floor upgrade—designed specifically to enhance aerodynamic consistency across a wider range of conditions—appears to have made a tangible difference.
According to a detailed report from the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, the new developments have improved the SF-25’s balance significantly. The upgrade has eased the handling issues that Hamilton had been grappling with for several months, particularly during race stints where tyre degradation and thermal efficiency become more critical. Ferrari’s new setup has allowed the car to operate more effectively in varying temperature ranges, both in slightly cooler and slightly warmer conditions than what had been possible before the race in Spielberg.
This boost in setup flexibility is already paying dividends. During the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton was reportedly reassured by the team that his preference for a one-stop strategy had been valid. He had pushed to go long on his opening stint, similar to what Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso did—both of whom secured top-eight finishes with that strategy. However, Ferrari opted against it, and the alternative strategy may have cost Hamilton a realistic shot at earning his first podium as a Ferrari driver.
As Silverstone looms, the timing of these Ferrari upgrades couldn’t be more ideal for Lewis Hamilton. The British Grand Prix holds deep emotional and sporting significance for him. With nine victories already to his name at the historic circuit, Hamilton holds the record for the most wins at a single Grand Prix venue in Formula 1 history. In 2024, he added yet another victory at Silverstone in mixed wet-dry conditions, breaking a 945-day winless streak and igniting the home crowd with an emotional triumph over fierce rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Now, as he prepares for the 2025 edition of his home race, Lewis Hamilton seems to be arriving with renewed momentum. The upgrades introduced by Ferrari have not only improved the car’s performance but also brought him closer to his teammate Charles Leclerc than at any other point this season. In Austria, the Briton’s race pace and proximity to the Monegasque driver suggested that the gap between the two is narrowing—a trend that may continue at Silverstone if conditions suit the refined SF-25.
Despite these improvements, some signs of dissatisfaction remain. A previously unheard radio transmission from Hamilton hinted at ongoing frustrations with the car, indicating that while the progress is clear, there is still significant work to be done. Hamilton knows that further refinement is needed before he can consistently challenge for victories and fight for podiums, but the trajectory now appears far more optimistic than it did just a few races ago.
With Ferrari beginning to directly address the handling traits that have limited Hamilton’s competitiveness in the first half of 2025, and the British Grand Prix on the horizon, there is genuine hope that the second half of the season could bring a turnaround. Whether that includes a long-awaited podium or even a home win remains to be seen—but the signs of forward momentum are finally starting to emerge.
And you? What do you think about Lewis Hamilton’s prospects of scoring his first podium with the Maranello team? Let us know with a comment at the end of the article or on our social media channels: Facebook Group / Facebook Page / Instagram / X (former Twitter)
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