Lewis Hamilton currently finds himself caught between the shadow of his dominant Mercedes years and the challenge of restoring Ferrari to championship-winning form. Judging by the results so far in 2025, his move to Maranello has been more of a lateral shift than the leap forward he had hoped for.
The seven-time world champion did not join Ferrari simply to prove himself against his former teammates — his goal was to fight for world titles once again. Yet, halfway through his debut season with the Scuderia, he is still searching for his first podium in red.
In a recent interview, Hamilton stressed that his time at Ferrari should not be judged in the present moment but rather by what he achieves by the time he leaves the team. He acknowledged that recent years have been difficult, with only a handful of wins in his last several seasons, but said he is determined to use that frustration as fuel to keep pushing forward.
George Russell has observed that Hamilton’s off-track approach has evolved since leaving Mercedes. Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Russell reflected on the era of Mercedes dominance when Hamilton captured six world titles between 2014 and 2020. At the time, success on track allowed him the freedom to enjoy a wide range of interests away from racing, including frequent appearances at high-profile fashion events, all with the full support of team principal Toto Wolff.
According to Russell, Hamilton’s lifestyle now appears more focused on the sporting challenge ahead. While he remains active in the fashion world — having served as co-chair for this year’s Met Gala in New York — Russell suggested that Hamilton’s priorities have shifted as he works to return to the top step of the podium.
Hamilton is clear about his mission at Ferrari: to break the team’s long title drought, which dates back to 2007, the year of his rookie season, when Kimi Raikkonen claimed the crown. He has pointed to past missed opportunities with greats like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, insisting he will do everything possible to ensure his own tenure avoids the same outcome.
It has been apparent for some time that Ferrari’s main hopes lie in the upcoming regulation changes, as their 2025 title chances have faded. Hamilton’s current focus is on delivering race wins before the year is out, with developments such as a new rear suspension potentially aiding that push. However, his weekend at Spa-Francorchamps got off to a rocky start when he was eliminated in SQ1 after a sudden spin — an incident reminiscent of the 2024 United States Grand Prix, one of his final appearances for Mercedes, when an unexplained error ended his race prematurely.
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