Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari was expected to spark a cultural revolution in Maranello, with the seven-time world champion attempting to introduce the work ethic and structure he helped build during his years of success at Mercedes. He presented detailed dossiers, methods, and new approaches, hoping to reshape the internal processes of the Scuderia. However, his efforts quickly collided with deep-rooted resistance and a long-standing mindset summed up by a phrase many insiders know all too well: “This is how we’ve always done it.”
For many within the Formula 1 paddock, this single expression captures the current state of Ferrari more accurately than any technical analysis.
Ferrari and Hamilton: Maurizio Arrivabene’s blunt assessment
The British driver has therefore found himself battling not only with a fragile and inconsistent SF-25, but also with an organizational system slow to embrace change. The comments from Maurizio Arrivabene—former Ferrari team principal and guest on Sky’s Race Anatomy after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—have reignited the debate around Lewis Hamilton’s first season with the Italian team. His debut year ended without podium finishes and with only a single Sprint Race victory in China.
The seven-time champion’s season highlighted the structural weaknesses of the SF-25, a car far removed from the technical promises made when he signed. The overall situation revealed a team struggling with internal confusion and a lack of direction. Tensions grew as engineers and technicians became irritated by drivers’ criticisms of the car—criticisms that, based on performance, were difficult to deny.
The increasingly strained working environment made Hamilton’s adaptation even more complicated. He had accepted the Ferrari project on the basis of a clear technical plan, a plan that never truly materialized. As Maurizio Arrivabene emphasized, what Ferrari needs most is responsibility and clarity.
The Italian manager opened his analysis by addressing Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton: “Would I have hired Hamilton? After this year it would be easy to say no. The correct answer is that I don’t know: when you bring in a driver with his achievements, you take on enormous responsibility. You can’t expect the Wizard of Oz to arrive and change everything. You have to give him a competitive car to work with.”
The former team principal continued: “If we were all 100 percent sure we had a competitive car, then Grands Prix would no longer make sense. You need solid foundations and a sense of responsibility. My answer remains: I don’t know. Would I have hired Newey instead? Yes.”
His view makes the priority unmistakable: the technical project must come first.
A lack of unity within Ferrari
Maurizio Arrivabene also pointed out that similar issues have surfaced in the past: “In my time, the one who sent dossiers was Vettel. He wrote, he talked… but were those things useful? No. I have nothing against Sebastian, but everyone has a role. A driver doesn’t only drive: he must help develop. But if he starts acting like an engineer, then goodnight.”
The parallel is clear—another multi-world champion who never managed to win a title in red.
He explained further why Formula 1 requires precise and specialized roles: “Drivers come in, use the simulator, spend two or three days in the factory, but they only have a general view of development. The devil is in the details. Think of the more than 50,000 components that make up an F1 car: they must work together and follow an incredible logic. That’s why I say everyone must do their part.”
Finally, Maurizio Arrivabene reiterated that the driver’s contribution is essential, but within proper boundaries: “Once the car is on the ground, the driver must give feedback to develop it in the right direction, especially if there is potential. But the technical structure must be ready to listen and take action.”
His comments offer a harsh but realistic insight and underline a central problem: the lack of unity between drivers and engineers. From the outside, the divide between those who drive the car and those who design it has appeared strikingly wide. And without a shared vision, progress becomes impossible. As the saying goes, unity is strength—yet someone in Maranello still seems unable to grasp it.
The 2026 reset offers a clean sheet. The question is whether Maranello will finally write a new playbook – or keep reading the same old chapter.
