Engineer Luigi Mazzola, a historic and highly respected figure closely linked to Ferrari and Formula 1, has pointed out the two fundamental problems affecting Lewis Hamilton during his time at Maranello. The arrival of the British seven-time world champion was expected to kick-start a new winning era for the Scuderia, but halfway through the 2025 season, it is clear that confidence is still lacking within the team. On top of that, there is the challenge posed by Charles Leclerc: being outperformed by the Monegasque driver is a major part of Lewis Hamilton’s current struggle.
Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari has so far been a modest failure. After fourteen races, the seven-time world champion is experiencing his worst start to a season since his early years with McLaren. The elusive podium finish continues to escape him—something that had not happened even during the difficult final years of his time at Mercedes. If we exclude the Sprint Races, where Hamilton has managed not only a podium in Miami but also a victory in China, he has never finished higher than fourth place in the main Grand Prix events, achieving that position on only three occasions.
This is a poor return compared to his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who, despite not yet securing a victory in 2025, has already stood on the podium five times, in Saudi Arabia, Monaco, Spain, Austria, and Belgium, narrowly missing out on a win in Hungary. This gap in performance adds further pressure on Hamilton, who has called for changes within Ferrari but has yet to match Charles Leclerc’s pace on track.
Mazzola: “Ferrari is not like Mercedes”
Speaking in a video published on the YouTube channel of NewsF1, Luigi Mazzola shared his perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult period at Ferrari. First and foremost, he highlighted the deep differences between the environments at Ferrari and Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters. The organisational methods differ significantly, and Hamilton himself has hinted that he would like to see changes within the Italian team. Such differences can lead to a gradual loss of trust in the team and in the expertise of individual members.
However, the “Leclerc factor” should not be overlooked: Hamilton cannot expect the team to make changes in his favour if he is not the undisputed leader of the squad. With Charles Leclerc feeling much more comfortable behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF-25, this dynamic only increases the pressure and responsibility weighing on an already frustrated Lewis Hamilton.
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