Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1, a long and successful story. However, with Ferrari, his performance has rarely matched that of his teammate. A difficult adaptation that still hasn’t found a resolution. The learning curve hasn’t been followed properly, partly due to the SF-25, a temperamental and difficult car to drive. A situation the seven-time world champion is really struggling with.
On Thursday in Imola, the Brit showed up alone at the microphones. Unfortunately, Charles Leclerc was not feeling well and was forced to rest until the first free practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. So it was up to Lewis Hamilton to share Ferrari’s impressions on the eve of the seventh Formula 1 weekend of the 2025 championship. A home weekend which, at least on paper, should be less complicated than the Miami Grand Prix, since the technical compromise between mechanics and aerodynamics seems less pronounced. Moreover, unlike in Florida, there will be three free practice sessions.
More time, in short, to focus on setup. The first issue the Brit wants to clarify is the alleged problem with the rear of his car. He stresses that this assumption is unfounded and that he’s not having any trouble understanding or managing the push-rod suspension at the rear. Much has been said about this aspect, but for now, there are no updates or confirmations regarding a possible fix.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is working hard, although he still needs to absorb a lot of information related to the SF-25’s controls. His “manual memory” is not yet at its best. This is evident when watching the onboard footage, where you don’t see the same confidence shown by Charles Leclerc, who, in his seventh year with the Maranello team, knows exactly what to do with the dials at all times, without even thinking.
The former Mercedes driver speaks of the hopes and difficulties of the historic team, regarding the further step forward it intends to make in this home Grand Prix, the first of two this season. He then touches on the topic of flexible wings, waiting—like his colleagues—to understand what will happen with the introduction of the technical directive on aeroelasticity. He doesn’t go out on a limb or make predictions, only showing curiosity.
The next topic relates to the season’s recurring theme. Ferrari has moved from Mattia Binotto’s “we need to understand” to the “unexpressed potential” coined by the current team principal Frederic Vasseur. The hidden performance that’s there, but not visible. Talks of progress continue, with hopes for a step forward on a specific issue that can’t be mentioned—who knows why. Most likely, we are talking about ride heights.
Examinations of the Italian car carried out in the first six rounds of the season point to this, keeping in mind that it is the real limit of the Maranello-based car. The team cannot lower the car as much as it would like, and downforce is lacking because the floor is not working properly. As a consequence, the tires are also not being managed optimally. In Formula 1, that is always how it goes.
When a technical limitation is present and can’t be fixed, it automatically creates issues in other parameters as teams try to minimize the main one. That is why the car’s operating window is narrow. All they can do is give their best while waiting to resolve the issue with major updates. Until then, it is a matter of “fighting to settle.” An unpleasant situation they’re forced to live with.
The “related issues” Lewis Hamilton refers to stem from this situation just described: the inability to maximize all types of corners and the need to sacrifice performance. The balance is imperfect, and this reflects in the lap times—both in qualifying and over the full race distance. The Brit doesn’t reveal the type of updates but emphasizes the team’s effort in producing them.
However, it is a package that offers no guarantees, as even Ferrari has no idea what the actual time gain will be once the new parts are installed on the SF-25 single-seater. Optimism remains, and with three-quarters of the championship still to go, the goal of winning has not been shelved. A strong mindset is needed to change the course of the season—before it’s too late.
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