Lewis Hamilton is gradually coming to terms with the fact that he is no longer ‘the baby of the house’ at Ferrari and is facing considerable cultural differences after his high-profile move from Mercedes. This perspective comes from Eric Boullier, former Renault and Lotus team principal as well as ex-McLaren racing director.
The Briton’s transfer from Mercedes—a team that shaped him into a seven-time Formula 1 world champion and helped him shatter numerous records—to Ferrari, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to race for the iconic Scuderia, remains one of the most talked-about transitions in F1 history.
Despite securing a sprint race win before the Chinese Grand Prix early in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the 40-year-old driver has found it challenging to leave a major mark in regular Grand Prix races. His best finish so far has been fourth place, narrowly missing out on the podium at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
Just two weeks later, Lewis Hamilton left the Circuit de Catalunya after finishing sixth in the Barcelona Grand Prix in Montmelo, appearing puzzled and frustrated by his inability to extract competitive pace from his Ferrari car.
Eric Boullier, who spent four years at Renault/Lotus and over four and a half years with McLaren, respects Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari, calling it a “very brave move.” However, he also acknowledges that difficulties were always to be expected.
He explained that when a driver has achieved everything and is widely regarded as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), adapting to a new team, especially one like Ferrari, is a significant challenge. According to Boullier, moving from Mercedes—a dominant top team with which Hamilton enjoyed long-term success—to another elite team such as Ferrari is far more complex than switching to a midfield squad.
On the topic of cultural adjustment, Eric Boullier drew parallels to Fernando Alonso’s struggles when he joined McLaren in 2007 after winning two consecutive championships with Renault. Alonso anticipated preferential treatment at McLaren but found himself competing against Hamilton, then a rookie, who quickly became the team’s focus.
The French motor racing engineer and manager highlighted that Lewis Hamilton is now experiencing a similar dynamic at Ferrari with Charles Leclerc, where the Briton is no longer the favored “baby of the house.”
He observed that Lewis Hamilton’s radio communications with his race engineer suggest he is still struggling to settle into the new team environment, and Eric Boullier believes it will take time for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion to fully adapt to the new reality. Further, the former racing director of the McLaren F1 Team noted that Lewis Hamilton would have felt more comfortable being English in a British-based team like Mercedes, whose headquarters and power unit facilities are located in Brackley and Brixworth, England.
Eric Boullier even compared Lewis Hamilton’s situation to that of former F1 driver Romain Grosjean, whom he signed for Lotus in 2012 despite widespread skepticism. Many doubted Grosjean’s abilities initially, but Boullier stood by him and was eventually proven right as Romain Grosjean became a podium contender.
The former team principal stressed that team culture significantly affects how well a driver integrates, suggesting this is a key challenge for Lewis Hamilton at in Maranello.
He emphasized that while Hamilton’s speed and status as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history are undisputed, it is clear that Charles Leclerc feels more at home within Ferrari’s culture, whereas Hamilton is still working to find his place.
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