George Russell reveals the real issues that former teammate Lewis Hamilton is facing behind the wheel of the Ferrari in his first season with the team.
When it was announced in February of last year that Lewis Hamilton would officially join Ferrari, fans and insiders alike were stunned. After years of speculation, the dream pairing was finally a reality: a seven-time world champion at the wheel of one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history. Unfortunately, reality has turned out to be very different, and Lewis Hamilton is experiencing several difficulties driving the Ferrari.
After ten Grands Prix, the situation is now clear to all: Lewis Hamilton is struggling both with the car and with the team. The SF-25 has shown some potential, as team members often point out, but it is a car that “runs out of breath” and is difficult to set up properly. For the British champion, adapting to a concept so different from Mercedes’ is proving to be anything but easy.
But it’s not just a matter of the car. The move to Maranello also meant entering a new work environment, with people he had never worked with before and, above all, a completely different working method. One of the most delicate aspects is undoubtedly his relationship with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Several times we’ve heard Lewis Hamilton complain over the radio about not receiving the information he expected.
All these factors contribute to explaining the struggles the Briton has faced since the start of the season. And it’s exactly on these points that George Russell—one of the drivers who knows Lewis best, having partnered with him at Mercedes—has weighed in. “I think when you’re a seven-time world champion, anything other than winning feels like failure,” Russell told Motorsport Week. “He’s probably pushing himself and the team beyond the limit, trying to get results that are beyond the car’s real potential. But that can be counterproductive. Still, last year he showed that when he’s at his best, he’s a tough competitor, capable of driving incredibly.”
Not just Lewis Hamilton: a frustrating season for everyone
George Russell also highlighted how this season has been frustrating not only for Lewis Hamilton but for all drivers not in a McLaren. Despite his recent win in Canada, the Mercedes driver acknowledged the strength of the Lando Norris–Oscar Piastri duo.
“I don’t question his potential. We saw it at Silverstone last year and in the sprint race in China this year. But 2025 is frustrating for all of us: unless you’re driving a McLaren, chances of winning are very slim. It’s frustrating for me, for Leclerc… for everyone.”
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