From idol to target: Lewis Hamilton faces backlash without Ferrari’s support. Lewis Hamilton faces growing criticism after a difficult start with Ferrari, while the team remains silent in his defense.

Lewis Hamilton’s performances are becoming a hot topic. Everyone is talking about it and everyone feels the need to express their opinion on what has been happening to the seven-time world champion since he decided to get behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF-25. When you drive for the Prancing Horse team, going from idol to target is easier than you might think, and the Briton is learning this the hard way.

Lewis Hamilton has only been at Ferrari since January, the 2025 championship started about a month and a half ago, and in such a short period there has already been a shift from the rather premature adoration of January-February to the near-crucifixion for the gap he is showing compared to teammate Charles Leclerc.

The problem with modern Formula 1 is that you have to talk, talk, and talk again, about something, no matter what. In the early months of the year, an absurd hype was created around the arrival of the seven-time world champion at Maranello, which, granted, is an event of absolute significance, but which alone was never going to be enough to allow Ferrari to fight for the championship.

It only took three races to reverse public opinion

After the first two races in Australia and China, GPs where, disqualification aside, Lewis had shown good things by winning the Sprint and being close to Charles Leclerc, many were commenting on Hamilton’s extraordinary ability to adapt to the car. Not by chance, the best among those who changed teams. Now, however, it has only taken three races to completely reverse public opinion.

Yes, it’s true, Lewis has been quite far from Leclerc throughout this first triple-header of the season, but as we often say, it is a very tight and complex set of events to handle. Carrying forward the development program on a completely new car, and let’s remember, one with some flaws to solve when compared to McLaren and in some ways even to Red Bull and Mercedes, is not easy when facing three such closely spaced events. There isn’t even enough time to fully process all the collected data.

Ferrari needs to be honest

In all this, however, while Lewis Hamilton is being put to the stocks with journalists and the public attacking him at will, Ferrari does nothing to defend him. Someone will surely comment saying that being a seven-time world champion, he doesn’t need the team’s protection. On the contrary, that this should be the occasion for him to prove his worth even more.

However, the point is different. It’s hard to believe that Lewis could have reversed his learning curve so quickly from China to the following weekends. Most likely, there is a reason for all this and, if so, Ferrari would be wrong to keep it all to themselves.

It quickly became clear that the SF-25 is not capable of fighting for the championship, so by now, racing for third-fourth place or for seventh-eighth, what difference does it make? According to the opinion of the writer, given the current situation, it would be appropriate to focus on deep study and learning work without worrying too much about the results and at the same time work primarily towards 2026, the year when a new set of regulations will come into force.

Losing a few positions in the Constructors’ Championship would even be useful because it would unlock some benefits in terms of hours that could be spent on CFD and wind tunnel testing for next year. The only thing needed, however, is sincerity, extreme, pure, and simple sincerity. Because if Lewis were dedicating himself heart and soul to understanding and solving the SF-25’s problems, continued to be attacked, primarily by the media, and Ferrari did nothing to defend him, then not only would it be unfair, but it would also seem highly unprofessional.