Lewis Hamilton recorded his strongest Grand Prix finish of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, crossing the line in fifth place just behind teammate Charles Leclerc. While the result marked a positive step forward, it also underscored some persistent challenges within the Ferrari camp—particularly regarding Hamilton’s ability to extract peak performance from his SF-25.
Ferrari left Bahrain with their biggest points haul of the season so far, as both drivers finished in the top five. Charles Leclerc came close to securing a podium finish but ultimately had to concede third place to Lando Norris, whose McLaren had the edge in race pace. The battle for third highlighted the performance gap that still separates Ferrari from the current championship frontrunners.
Although Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint Race victory in Shanghai remains the standout result of the year for Ferrari, it came under the shadow of both drivers being disqualified from the main Grand Prix due to technical infringements. Despite this, Lewis Hamilton’s Sunday performance in Bahrain showed encouraging signs of recovery—though not without underlying concerns.
The Briton endured a challenging weekend overall. He struggled during practice sessions and fell significantly short of Charles Leclerc’s pace in qualifying. The difficulties prompted fresh scrutiny over whether Ferrari are enabling the seven-time world champion to operate at his highest level.
Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has reportedly shifted his perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile switch to Maranello after observing the early season dynamics. Meanwhile, Sky Sports F1 analyst Naomi Schiff questioned whether Ferrari are currently able to maximise the full potential of their new signing.
During her Bahrain analysis, Naomi Schiff noted that the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s adjustment to life at Ferrari has not been smooth. According to her sources, the team has so far been unable to run the car in the Briton’s preferred configuration, which has led to mounting frustration on both sides of the garage. She highlighted how Lewis Hamilton’s mood entering the race weekend had seemed noticeably subdued, suggesting a lack of energy or optimism around his performance prospects.
Naomi Schiff explained that Ferrari’s new floor upgrade did help close the performance gap, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showing improved competitiveness toward the latter stages of the race. However, she pointed out that Hamilton continues to struggle more on Saturdays than Sundays, with qualifying performance lagging behind his usual standards. Nevertheless, she observed that Hamilton tends to come alive during race conditions, demonstrating better long-run pace and visibly boosting his energy when his performance improves.
David Coulthard also raised questions about Lewis Hamilton’s form after qualifying, and the commentary of the Rwandan and Belgian racing driver and television presenter echoed similar concerns about the alignment between driver and machine.
One of the key issues at play is Hamilton’s driving style. He prefers a very low ride height—sitting as close to the ground as possible—but Ferrari were compelled to raise his car’s setup after the disqualification in China. This change in ride height directly impacts the aerodynamic performance and balance of the car, making it harder for Hamilton to drive at his best.
Additionally, Lewis Hamilton is still adapting to new systems and hardware at Ferrari, including unfamiliar braking systems that differ from what he used at Mercedes and McLaren. These transitions, though expected, have contributed to the teething problems that continue to affect his performance.
The larger concern for Ferrari is whether they can engineer a car that fits Hamilton’s specific performance window. At Mercedes, the British driver often found himself unable to optimise his setup due to persistent porpoising issues that forced the team to compromise on car height. That ultimately limited their performance—and Ferrari now risks falling into a similar pattern.
Charles Leclerc, although not completely satisfied with his own machinery, at least benefits from extensive experience within the team. His familiarity with Ferrari’s systems allows him to adapt more quickly and work around setup issues, something Hamilton is still learning to navigate.
Ferrari’s first major upgrade of the season helped improve overall performance, but the SF-25 still lacks the pace needed to match McLaren over a full race distance. With the 2026 Formula 1 regulation overhaul approaching, every remaining race in 2025 is critical. Teams are already beginning to divert focus toward next-generation cars, meaning time is running short for Ferrari to give Hamilton a machine capable of contending for victories.
If the Maranello team cannot consistently provide the seven-time Formula 1 world champion with the right tools—especially his ideal setup—he may continue to operate at a disadvantage, both against rivals and his own teammate. And for a Ferrari team aiming to return to title contention, that should be a major red flag.
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