Lewis Hamilton Facing Major Challenge to Match Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in 2025 F1 Season
Twelve races into his first campaign with Scuderia Ferrari, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton finds himself facing an uphill battle. While the highly anticipated move to Maranello was expected to rejuvenate both the team and driver, the results so far have fallen short of expectations.
Although Lewis Hamilton has already managed to claim a Sprint race victory in Shanghai earlier in the year, the British driver has yet to secure a podium finish during a full Grand Prix weekend in 2025. Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari remain winless after 12 rounds, despite holding second place in the constructors’ standings—largely thanks to Charles Leclerc’s consistency, including four trips to the podium.
However, Ferrari’s current position in the championship standings may paint an overly optimistic picture. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have struggled with the limitations of the SF-25 chassis. The car has proven to be difficult to handle, especially due to its narrow operating window. The Briton in particular has encountered persistent issues with the power steering system, most notably through high-speed corners, where driver feedback and control are crucial.
These problems have prevented the 40-year-old from competing on equal footing with frontrunners like McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton currently trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by a significant 131-point margin.
Despite early assumptions that Lewis Hamilton would immediately challenge teammate Charles Leclerc, the Monegasque driver has maintained a clear advantage throughout the season. As the only Ferrari driver to finish on the podium so far this year, Charles Leclerc has been outperforming the former Mercedes star in both qualifying and race pace.
Allan McNish Warns Lewis Hamilton That a Battle with Leclerc Will Not Be Easy
Former Formula 1 driver and respected commentator Allan McNish has offered a frank assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s current position at Ferrari. Speaking on the RacingNews365 podcast, Allan McNish explained that Hamilton must prepare for a tough internal battle if he hopes to go “nose to nose” with his teammate in the second half of the season.
McNish pointed out that Charles Leclerc is not only one of the fastest drivers on the grid but also deeply embedded within the Ferrari organization. The Monegasque, who has been with the Italian team since 2019, knows the internal structure and technical staff intimately—giving him a clear advantage over Hamilton, who is still adapting to life at Maranello.
According to McNish, even Lewis Hamilton’s record of seven world championships does not erase the time and effort required to become truly integrated into a new team environment. While Hamilton has shown glimpses of his former self throughout the season, McNish noted that a lack of consistent communication between Hamilton and his new race engineer may be contributing to the Briton’s challenges. That disconnect, he believes, will only be resolved through time and shared experience.
McNish emphasized that Lewis Hamilton is not in danger of losing his seat at Ferrari but warned that the British driver will need to work “pretty hard” to establish parity with Leclerc by the end of the 2025 campaign.
Lewis Hamilton is Pushing for Structural Changes at Ferrari Ahead of 2026 Regulations
Behind the scenes, Lewis Hamilton is playing a key role in Ferrari’s development program as they work to adapt the SF-25 to his driving style and long-term vision. The Scuderia are hoping that a significant rear suspension upgrade, scheduled for introduction at the Belgian Grand Prix, will help alleviate some of the handling issues and bring Ferrari closer to McLaren’s performance levels.
Hamilton is also advocating for broader changes to Ferrari’s engineering and strategic approach. The British driver, known for his detailed technical feedback, is reportedly pushing the team to rethink its operational philosophy in preparation for the sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026.
Reports indicate that even Charles Leclerc’s own driver coach has acknowledged the importance of Hamilton’s feedback and is encouraging Ferrari to incorporate his suggestions into future car development. These internal changes, if implemented successfully, could position Ferrari’s driver lineup to be far more competitive as the next era of Formula 1 begins.
Despite the challenges he has faced adapting to new braking systems, unfamiliar terminology, and a different race engineering setup, Lewis Hamilton remains committed to making his move to Ferrari a long-term success. However, concerns remain about the competitiveness of Ferrari’s future power unit, with early suggestions that the Maranello-based team may already be trailing rivals Mercedes and Audi in development.
As the second half of the season approaches, Lewis Hamilton is not only racing for results—he’s also racing to reshape the foundation of Ferrari’s next chapter in Formula 1. Whether that effort pays off in 2025 or materializes in the new era of 2026 remains to be seen.
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