Lewis Hamilton experienced one of his lowest points since joining Scuderia Ferrari during the Hungaroring Grand Prix in Budapest, appearing visibly more downbeat than at any other stage of his time with the Italian team. In a moment that surprised many in the paddock, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion suggested that Ferrari should consider replacing him, a stark reflection of his mounting frustrations as his struggles continued.
Ferrari have acknowledged the weight of Hamilton’s remarks rather than simply ignoring them, yet there is no indication that the team will act on his suggestion. Instead, his words underline the extent of the work still required for both sides to establish the right balance and extract the best from their partnership. The British driver remains without a podium finish in Ferrari colours, and his Sprint victory in Shanghai earlier this year feels like a distant memory, especially after a Hungarian weekend many considered his worst yet.
In qualifying, Lewis Hamilton failed to progress beyond Q1, while his teammate Charles Leclerc stunned the grid by taking pole position. The race offered little respite, as Hamilton crossed the finish line in the same position where he had started, P12, unable to make any significant progress through the field.
Some observers believe Hamilton has fallen into the same trap that Sebastian Vettel once did at Ferrari, trying to emulate Leclerc’s car setups instead of pursuing his own direction. Leclerc, who has been with the team since 2019, has a deep understanding of Ferrari’s systems and engineers, while Hamilton’s results appear to be worsening as the 2025 season advances.
One figure who sought to lift Hamilton’s spirits was former McLaren team coordinator Jo Ramirez, who privately advised him against dwelling on his self-criticism after Budapest. Ramirez was surprised by the severity of Hamilton’s comments to Ferrari and felt compelled to step in. According to Ramirez, the British driver was visibly dejected, almost as though he had been physically weighed down by his disappointment. Ramirez reminded him that every driver experiences bad days and urged him to move forward rather than punish himself for a single poor weekend.
Ramirez reflected on Hamilton’s illustrious career, noting that with seven world titles to his name, he has nothing left to prove. He also pointed out a possible source of Hamilton’s discomfort: throughout his career, Hamilton has always worked within the familiar structure of English-speaking teams. His early years were spent at McLaren, followed by a long stint at Mercedes, a German brand but one whose Formula 1 operation is based in the United Kingdom. Even Mercedes’ engineering staff and leadership had largely non-Italian methods and communication styles. Now, for the first time, Hamilton finds himself in an Italian team, operating under a different cultural and organisational framework—something Ramirez suspects may be unsettling for him, even if he does not consciously acknowledge it.
Ramirez added that Hamilton’s ongoing struggles were plain to see and warned that if he failed to recover form, there was a possibility he might not continue in Formula 1 next year, a scenario he described as a potential loss for the sport.
Meanwhile, discussions within the paddock have turned to whether Ferrari can turn Hamilton’s season around amid fresh speculation over a possible early exit. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has expressed optimism that Hamilton will emerge stronger in the second half of the season, suggesting that the upcoming summer break could provide the mental and technical reset he needs. Sir Jackie Stewart has also expressed confidence in Hamilton’s ability to succeed at Ferrari, insisting there is no fundamental reason why he cannot perform at the highest level with the team.
Lewis Hamilton himself has reportedly submitted internal feedback to Ferrari outlining three critical points he believes must be addressed—ranging from operational processes within the team to technical elements of the car. However, Piero Ferrari has cautioned that delivering a championship-winning package tailored to Hamilton’s needs is a complex task that cannot be solved overnight.
The pressure is now on for Ferrari to find solutions quickly, particularly given the Briton’s current mindset and the fact that he turns 40 this season. Some British journalists have gone so far as to speculate that if improvements are not made, Lewis Hamilton might decide to walk away from the sport entirely in 2025, bringing his remarkable Formula 1 career to a close.
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