Ferrari grapples with Lewis Hamilton’s driving ‘habit’ that may be hard to overcome. Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 struggles at Ferrari continue as he battles a driving ‘habit’ linked to trail braking.

Lewis Hamilton Faces Persistent Driving ‘Habit’ That Ferrari May Struggle to Overcome Amid Challenging 2025 Season

Lewis Hamilton began his 18th Formula 1 season with optimism and high expectations. For the first time in his illustrious career, the seven-time world champion would not be driving a Mercedes-powered car but instead racing for the iconic Ferrari team, proudly wearing their famous red overalls. Ferrari, a team that has not secured a drivers’ championship since 2008, appeared poised to end that drought with Hamilton joining forces alongside his new teammate Charles Leclerc. Both drivers were believed to have the talent and ambition to bring the championship back to Maranello.

However, the reality of the 2025 season has fallen short of those hopes. Team principal Fred Vasseur has witnessed Ferrari struggle to make the necessary gains to compete with frontrunners like McLaren. As the season approaches its mid-point, neither Ferrari driver is in serious contention for the drivers’ championship, while Andrea Stella’s McLaren team has effectively wrapped up the constructors’ title before the summer break.

Hamilton’s performance since his move from Mercedes has not reached the heights he or the team would have hoped for. The issues that troubled him last season have carried over and continued to hamper his progress in 2025.

Following Hamilton’s elimination in Q2 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Vasseur defended the team’s approach, citing minor mistakes and the incredibly narrow margin by which Hamilton missed out on qualifying for the final top 10 shootout. However, former Formula E driver and analyst Sam Bird has highlighted a more fundamental problem. Speaking about Hamilton’s difficulties, Bird revealed that sources he has spoken to believe the British driver has developed a specific driving ‘habit’ that Ferrari may find impossible to correct.

Sam Bird Identifies Hamilton’s Persistent Trail Braking Issue as a Major Challenge for Ferrari

On the Chequered Flag Podcast, Bird discussed Hamilton’s struggles in qualifying and pointed to what he believes is the root cause. According to Bird, both Hamilton and Ferrari are aware of the problem, but breaking the ingrained driving habit is proving difficult. The issue appears to be linked to Hamilton’s trail braking technique—a style that does not seem to affect teammate Charles Leclerc.

Bird explained that when Hamilton brakes hard, the car pitches forward. If he continues to trail brake under these conditions, it can cause the rear diffuser to stall, leading to rear-end instability at the end of braking. This instability has been a recurring challenge for Hamilton, particularly noticeable when he navigates tricky sections such as turns six and seven at the Hungaroring, where he frequently seems on the verge of losing control.

Attempting to fix the problem has led to a technical conundrum for Ferrari. Adjustments to reduce the rear instability, such as raising the front ride height to reduce rake, inadvertently increase front-end understeer, which compromises the car’s overall performance. Similarly, stiffening the front suspension to improve balance has proven ineffective because it worsens handling if Hamilton drives in a style similar to Leclerc’s.

In summary, every solution Ferrari has tried to address Hamilton’s braking instability risks making the car slower and harder to drive, creating a frustrating cycle that has yet to be resolved.

Ongoing Struggles Suggest Hamilton Is Still Adjusting to Ferrari’s Demands

Bird’s insights came after observing Hamilton’s braking challenges during qualifying and speaking with individuals close to the driver. These observations highlight that the transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has been far from seamless.

Further emphasis on Hamilton’s difficulties came from comments made by Valtteri Bottas, who pointed out Hamilton’s historically strong performances at the Hungaroring. Bottas’s remarks underscore how surprising it is that Hamilton has not been able to translate his skills into success at one of his favourite circuits since joining Ferrari.

Given Hamilton’s more than ten years with Mercedes, a period of adjustment was always expected upon his arrival at Maranello. However, the persistence of these issues deep into the season indicates that Hamilton’s adaptation process remains a work in progress, with both driver and team still searching for the right formula to unlock his full potential.