Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Worsen Ahead of Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as Technical Gamble Backfires
Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated move to Ferrari has not delivered the fairytale start many had envisioned, with the seven-time world champion currently enduring a rocky opening chapter to his new chapter in red. As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches its seventh round at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Hamilton finds himself sitting a disappointing seventh in the Drivers’ Championship standings—far below the lofty expectations that accompanied his winter switch from Mercedes.
The Briton joined the Italian side with hopes of capturing a record-breaking eighth world title, and based on Ferrari’s competitive form last season, those hopes were not far-fetched. However, the team’s ambitious overhaul of its 2025 challenger appears to have misfired. Ferrari introduced major changes to the car’s architecture, particularly the front suspension, but the updates have so far yielded more questions than solutions.
Lewis Hamilton’s performances have been hampered by what the team describes as strategic “sacrifices,” particularly during qualifying sessions. These adjustments are aimed at gaining long-run pace but have left both Ferrari drivers struggling to compete at the front of the grid. The bigger concern, however, remains race-day consistency—where valuable championship points are earned and Ferrari continues to underdeliver.
A growing concern within the paddock is that Ferrari may have taken a gamble too late in the current regulations cycle. With sweeping rule changes looming in 2026, solving these problems now seems increasingly difficult. The team’s issues are further compounded by their technical relationship with Haas, which has taken a very different approach to car development this season.
Haas, currently outperforming expectations and sitting sixth in the Constructors’ standings, chose not to adopt Ferrari’s new pull-rod front suspension. That decision is now appearing to be a smart one. According to motorsport journalist and F1 expert Ben Anderson, the revised layout on Ferrari’s SF-25 might be contributing to key handling issues such as front brake lockups, understeer, and weak traction in slow corners. These characteristics have eroded what was previously considered one of the car’s greatest strengths—mechanical grip.
Anderson pointed out that while Ferrari’s struggles in low-speed corners could stem from various factors, the timing of such a significant structural change—just one season before an entirely new ruleset—is inherently risky. He noted that Haas’ refusal to adopt the 2025 specification suspension might have spared them from similar problems, indirectly spotlighting a design flaw that is now proving costly for Ferrari and Hamilton.
This has direct implications for Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to step onto a Grand Prix podium in 2025 despite promising moments during Sprint events, including a win in China and a podium in Miami. While those results offered temporary relief, they have not masked the larger, systemic issues plaguing the SF-25.
The British driver, however, was not signed solely for his driving ability. Ferrari recruited him with the understanding that his nearly two decades of championship experience would be invaluable in car development and team leadership. His technical feedback is expected to guide ongoing upgrades, starting with new components set to debut at Imola.
Whether those upgrades will be enough remains to be seen. If the updates fail to address Ferrari’s core weaknesses, Lewis Hamilton’s stint with the team risks becoming a prolonged struggle rather than a triumphant finale. Unless there’s a dramatic turnaround, the closing chapters of one of Formula 1’s greatest careers could be spent scrapping for midfield finishes—an outcome that would fall well short of the legacy Lewis Hamilton hopes to leave.
Leave a Reply