Ferrari ambassador Marc Gené has suggested that the Scuderia may have misjudged the scale of Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation process after his high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari, pointing to Carlos Sainz’s rapid integration into the team in 2021 as a possible reference point that led to overly optimistic expectations within Maranello.
From a performance standpoint, Lewis Hamilton’s first season in Ferrari colours proved to be one of the most challenging campaigns of his Formula 1 career. Despite the enormous expectations surrounding one of the most significant driver transfers in modern F1 history, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion struggled to consistently fight at the front and ended the season without a single podium finish.
By contrast, Carlos Sainz demonstrated immediate competitiveness when he joined Ferrari in 2021, quickly adapting to the team’s operational structure and technical philosophy. The Spanish driver secured multiple podium finishes in his debut season with the Scuderia and, notably, remains the only teammate of Charles Leclerc to have outscored the Monegasque driver across a full Formula 1 season.
Marc Gené explains the different adaptation curves of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz
Speaking on F1 journalist Albert Fabrega’s FABRECAST podcast, former Formula 1 driver and current Ferrari ambassador Marc Gené analysed the transition of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari, offering insight into the internal expectations and realities faced by the Italian team.
Gené explained that Lewis Hamilton has gradually become more comfortable within the Ferrari environment in Maranello, but also admitted that the team may have underestimated how complex the adaptation process would be for a driver who spent so many years embedded within Mercedes’ highly structured system.
According to Marc Gené, “There is an adaptation period that we perhaps slightly underestimated. It is not easy. And Carlos Sainz’s transition was a bit easier because he has already been part of several different teams.”
Before joining Ferrari, Carlos Sainz had already gained experience across multiple Formula 1 projects, including Toro Rosso, Renault, and McLaren. Following his departure from Ferrari, he continued his career with Williams, making it his fifth different team in Formula 1. By comparison, Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari represented only the third team of his entire Formula 1 career, having spent the majority of his time with Mercedes after his early years at McLaren.
Marc Gené further elaborated that long-term continuity within a single team can make adaptation significantly more complex when switching environments. “When you have been with the same team for many years, extracting the maximum performance from a new structure is not simple, especially when you are used to a very specific way of working,” he explained.
He added that Lewis Hamilton’s current improvement is linked both to increasing familiarity with Ferrari and to technical refinements within the car itself. “He is now more competitive because the car suits his driving style better, but also because both he and we understand each other much better. We now know exactly what we need, and what he requires from us, especially in important areas like power steering and braking systems.”
Marc Gené concluded that the relationship between driver and team has become significantly more aligned over time. “We have moved closer together. We have adapted the car slightly more to his requests, and he has also adapted more to what we are able to provide,” he stated.
Carlos Sainz’s adaptability highlighted as a key strength in Formula 1
Carlos Sainz’s ability to quickly adjust to different technical environments has long been considered one of his strongest assets in Formula 1. Charles Leclerc has previously acknowledged that he admired this particular trait in his former teammate, highlighting how quickly the Spaniard could extract performance from unfamiliar machinery.
This adaptability was also seen as a major factor behind Carlos Sainz’s strong performances in his subsequent career moves, including his successful results during his time at Williams, where he continued to demonstrate his ability to maximise performance in varying competitive contexts.
Lewis Hamilton’s toughest season explained by Ferrari insider
During the same conversation with Albert Fabrega, Marc Gené also revealed insights into a private discussion with Lewis Hamilton, during which the seven-time Formula 1 world champion reportedly admitted that the most recent season had been one of the most difficult periods of his entire sporting career.
Marc Gené stated, “Last year was extremely difficult for all Lewis Hamilton fans, myself included, but especially for him. I spoke with him on several occasions. He told me he had never experienced such a hard season in his professional career. But now he is happy.”
He also added that Lewis Hamilton currently feels relieved and more confident within the Ferrari structure, especially after confirming that he still possesses the pace required to compete at the highest level in Formula 1. “I believe he feels a sense of relief, and he has also realised that he still has the speed to fight for podiums and race victories – and that is exactly what he intends to do. And who knows, maybe even fight for the World Championship,” Marc Gené concluded.
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