Lewis Hamilton explains why the 2025 F1 season feels less spectacular. Lewis Hamilton blames the budget cap for making the 2025 Formula 1 season less exciting.

F1, Lewis Hamilton accuses: here is what made the 2025 season less exciting

According to Lewis Hamilton, the budget cap is making Formula 1 less spectacular. But is it really the main reason behind a ‘boring’ 2025?

Lewis Hamilton did not mince words: the 2025 season “is not as exciting as the last few years before the new regulations,” and in his view, the fault lies with the budget cap introduced in 2021.

Speaking at the press conference in Baku, the Ferrari driver recalled past seasons such as 2008 with McLaren and 2013 with Mercedes. Back then, even while teams were working in parallel on new technical regulations, they still brought heavy updates right until the final race. “This time, though, the development stopped very early,” Lewis Hamilton said, “and you are forced to race with what you have until the end. It’s less fun because there are no upgrades, but next year the updates will return and the season will be much more interesting.”

Ferrari’s difficult context

The situation is clear: Ferrari introduced updates such as a new floor in Austria and a revised rear suspension in Belgium, but the gap to McLaren has not been reduced. Charles Leclerc has stepped onto the podium more frequently, but the team remains behind the leaders. For Hamilton, stuck in a car that was already out of contention for the constructors’ title with several races to go, the season feels flat and predictable.

Is the budget cap really to blame?

In the past, even without spending limits, teams often slowed development during the final year of a regulation cycle. In 2008, McLaren and Ferrari fought until the end, but BMW Sauber gave up early. In 2013, Red Bull dominated with Sebastian Vettel while Mercedes was already investing heavily for 2014. More recently, in 2021, even with the budget cap in place, Red Bull and Mercedes pushed development until the last race because the championship battle was so intense.

This year, however, McLaren dominated for much of the season, Red Bull only caught up around Monza, while Ferrari and Mercedes failed to find effective solutions. The failed rear suspension experiment at Imola — which was eventually abandoned — is a clear example. The result is a more static pecking order, though not without surprises: Sauber, for instance, went from backmarker to scoring podium finishes.

Teams defend the cost cap

Despite Hamilton’s criticism, many teams continue to defend the cost cap. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella called it “fundamental for the health of the championship,” stressing that “performance is not only about money but also about technical ability.” Sauber sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also pointed out that the closer competition is more related to stable regulations than to spending limits alone.

Does Hamilton have a point?

The seven-time champion’s comments serve as a warning sign: fewer upgrades can make transitional seasons more predictable, especially for drivers stuck in uncompetitive cars. However, beyond Hamilton’s personal impressions, the budget cap has undeniably created more balance and long-term sustainability, without preventing well-managed teams like McLaren and Red Bull from making the difference.

Lewis Hamilton himself knows this and is already looking ahead: “This year we finish like this, but next year will be different, with many upgrades coming. It will be a much more exciting championship.”