Lewis Hamilton has multiple reasons to remain optimistic as he heads into the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign. While his time at Ferrari has yet to deliver a full Grand Prix victory, there are signs of progress—and crucial upgrades on the horizon—that could change the momentum in his favour.
Ferrari currently occupies second place in the constructors’ standings, a position that may not fully reflect the team’s challenges in recent races. The Maranello squad has not secured a race win in 2025 so far, with the highlight of the season being Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint Race victory in China. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has delivered all four of Ferrari’s podium finishes, reinforcing his consistency throughout the campaign.
Elsewhere, rivals such as Max Verstappen of Red Bull and George Russell of Mercedes have each claimed race wins. However, both teams have encountered various issues of their own, keeping the battle for ‘best of the rest’ status wide open heading into the final rounds.
In the drivers’ championship, Hamilton currently trails his teammate by just 16 points. The seven-time world champion has steadily closed the gap in recent races, showing stronger form after a difficult start. His performance at the British Grand Prix stood out in particular, with Leclerc himself reportedly acknowledging that the Briton was Ferrari’s standout performer on home soil. Lewis Hamilton qualified strongly at Silverstone and looked like a genuine contender for pole, ultimately finishing fourth in the race.
Hopes are now building around Ferrari’s upcoming technical updates. A significant rear suspension development is set to debut at the Belgian Grand Prix, and it may prove pivotal for team principal Frédéric Vasseur, who is seeking to reinvigorate the team’s competitiveness. However, despite the technical progress, some former Formula 1 drivers remain unconvinced by Hamilton’s initial adaptation to life at Ferrari.
Jenson Button, speaking as part of a feature for Formula 1’s official platform, offered a cautious assessment of Hamilton’s early months with the Scuderia. Button noted that fans and analysts alike naturally expect Hamilton to match or exceed his teammate’s performance level, but this has not consistently been the case so far in 2025. He pointed out the difficulty of switching teams—especially from a British environment like Mercedes to Ferrari, an Italian team with a vastly different culture and dynamic.
According to Jenson Button, Charles Leclerc’s deep integration within the Ferrari organisation, including his fluency in Italian and long-standing relationship with the team, gives him a natural advantage. He acknowledged that this cultural and structural shift presents unique challenges for Hamilton, who is still adjusting after over a decade with Mercedes. Nonetheless, Jenson Button maintained that if any driver can rise to the challenge of mastering a difficult car in new surroundings, it is Lewis Hamilton. At the same time, he admitted that not being able to consistently extract the maximum performance from the SF-25 must be increasingly frustrating for someone with Hamilton’s competitive instincts.
David Coulthard also weighed in, echoing some of Button’s sentiments. David Coulthard observed that Hamilton appeared far more settled at the British Grand Prix than in earlier races, suggesting that his performance at Silverstone represented a turning point. Prior to that, Coulthard felt that Hamilton’s outings—aside from the Chinese Sprint win—had looked uncomfortable, especially when compared to Leclerc’s pace. While he acknowledged the iconic status of Ferrari in Formula 1, he questioned whether Hamilton’s improved form at Silverstone was track-specific or the beginning of a sustained upward trend.
Another former world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, offered a more nuanced take. While he described Ferrari’s overall approach this season as somewhat unusual, Villeneuve expressed confidence that Hamilton is gradually establishing himself within the team. He suggested that Hamilton is beginning to assert more influence, positioning himself to lead the team’s direction as development continues. In Villeneuve’s view, Hamilton’s patience and experience are beginning to pay off. The fact that he has endured a difficult start without showing signs of collapse was, to him, an encouraging indicator of what may come next. The Canadian added that Hamilton has always been an emotionally expressive driver, but it now appears that the Briton has moved past the most challenging phase and may be entering a more promising stretch.
Meanwhile, technical analyst Gary Anderson noted his surprise at Ferrari’s recent private testing activity. The session, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the new rear suspension, was conducted to determine whether the component would bring tangible improvements. While internal sources at Ferrari have expressed “cautious optimism” about the new system, doubts remain about how it will perform in real race conditions.
As the team prepares to debut the update at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton is expected to be highly motivated. He knows that refining the car’s handling characteristics—particularly through slow-speed corners and high-load sections—is essential if he is to silence any lingering doubts about his ability to deliver results in red. Ultimately, Hamilton remains determined to demonstrate that any shortcomings thus far have been car-related rather than driver-induced. The next few races, beginning with the Belgian Grand Prix, could prove decisive in that effort.
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