According to Sky Sport F1 expert Matteo Bobbi, the struggles experienced by Lewis Hamilton during his debut season with Scuderia Ferrari may be rooted in technical and strategic decisions made well before the British driver arrived in Maranello. After 12 rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, Hamilton has yet to find full confidence in the Ferrari SF-25. Despite a few positive flashes—such as his Sprint Race victory in Shanghai—the overall results have fallen short of expectations.
As Matteo Bobbi explains, certain decisions made by the Italian team in the past, particularly during the 2024 season, may be having a lingering impact on Hamilton’s current performance.
Hamilton Aligning with Leclerc’s Setup—but Style Remains Different
In an effort to close the gap to his teammate, Lewis Hamilton has recently started adopting car setups more similar to those preferred by Charles Leclerc. This move highlights the internal pressure the seven-time world champion is facing and his willingness to adapt. However, as Bobbi points out, the driving styles of the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers are fundamentally different, and a shared setup may not benefit both equally.
In an interview with RacingNews365, Matteo Bobbi offered a detailed analysis of the situation, comparing Hamilton’s current struggles with both his past driving experiences and Leclerc’s needs:
“Hamilton was clearly accustomed to driving a specific type of car with distinct handling characteristics. When he joined Ferrari at the beginning of the season, many claimed that he and Charles Leclerc preferred similar traits in a car. But that’s simply not true—they drive very differently.”
Bobbi emphasized that both drivers require contrasting balance characteristics in order to extract maximum performance from a Formula 1 car. “Charles Leclerc needs a very strong front end. He’s comfortable even with a loose rear, as long as the front is planted. If the car lacks that strong front end, it simply doesn’t perform for him. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton requires something quite the opposite. Of course, he also needs good front-end grip, as all top drivers do, but his style demands a stable rear—especially during corner entry.”
Braking Systems Also Affect Performance
Another point of divergence that may be affecting Hamilton’s adaptation is the braking system. While Ferrari uses Brembo brakes, Hamilton had grown used to the Carbon Industrie system during his many years at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. These systems behave differently in terms of pedal feel, response, and heat management—factors that can have a significant influence on a driver’s confidence, particularly under braking into slow corners.
Past Technical Decisions Still Shaping the Present
Ferrari’s 2025 technical problems, especially during qualifying sessions, may stem from decisions made in the previous season. Matteo Bobbi pointed specifically to an issue that has become more evident since the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc mentioned problems with the power steering system—an issue affecting both him and Lewis Hamilton.
Bobbi explained that during the 2024 season, there had already been friction between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. regarding steering preferences. Charles Leclerc reportedly wanted more assistance from the power steering system, while Carlos Sainz preferred less. As a result, Ferrari’s engineering team was tasked with developing a compromise solution to meet both drivers’ needs. “They designed a system that, in the end, may have been too aggressive,” Bobbi explained. “Now, it seems like it’s too much for both drivers to handle comfortably.”
This aggressive steering configuration is especially problematic during qualifying sessions, where precision and confidence at the limit are essential. In these situations, any discomfort or hesitation with the steering system can lead to a critical loss of performance.
Fixing the Power Steering System Isn’t Easy
According to Matteo Bobbi, modifying the steering system mid-season is not a simple task. “Once the power steering system has been designed and integrated into the car, it becomes very difficult to adjust or reconfigure. For now, they are stuck with it, and that’s another thing Lewis Hamilton doesn’t like at all.”
Bobbi also recalled that the first signs of Hamilton’s discomfort with the steering system were already apparent during pre-season testing in Bahrain. “After just a few laps, he made it very clear that he wasn’t happy. He literally said: ‘What the hell is this steering system?’ and from that moment onward, it became a major ongoing issue for Ferrari.”
As the season progresses, solving this issue could be key to improving Hamilton’s results and overall harmony within the team. While Ferrari is already looking ahead to 2026, the challenges of 2025—both technical and cultural—are proving more complex than expected for Lewis Hamilton and the team.
Leave a Reply