Lewis Hamilton grows concerned over Ferrari’s internal shift as alarming changes emerge since his arrival. Lewis Hamilton suspects a growing lack of support within Ferrari as internal tensions rise and performance struggles continue.

Lewis Hamilton experienced yet another underwhelming weekend in what has been a challenging debut season with Ferrari, as the seven-time world champion could only salvage a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.

While teammate Charles Leclerc benefitted from Max Verstappen’s post-race penalty—handed down after a collision with George Russell—to secure a podium in third, Hamilton found himself overtaken by Nico Hülkenberg in a Sauber. The German, who had started down in 15th, passed Hamilton on Lap 65 of 66 and managed to pull away by nearly two seconds before the chequered flag. The Briton had started the race from P5, yet his pace rarely threatened the frontrunners. By Lap 10, Ferrari instructed the Briton to let Charles Leclerc through, a signal of the clear pace disparity within the team.

Lewis Hamilton suspects a shift in Ferrari’s internal support as frustrations mount
According to reports from Corriere della Sera, Hamilton is beginning to feel an unsettling change within Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. The 40-year-old now suspects that a portion of the team’s staff may no longer be aligned with him, suggesting that some of the early enthusiasm surrounding his move from Mercedes has evaporated. Where there was once celebration, Hamilton now senses an atmosphere of quiet doubt—if not outright criticism.

This shift has added to the emotional weight of his difficult season. After the race in Barcelona, Hamilton’s onboard footage revealed a visibly disheartened driver, struggling to contain his disappointment. The SF-25’s unstable rear continues to be a major factor in his lack of form, preventing him from consistently extracting performance—something Leclerc seems far more comfortable doing.

Despite sitting sixth in the drivers’ standings with 71 points—23 behind Charles Leclerc— Lewis Hamilton is not giving up just yet. The British star is said to be clinging to hope that Ferrari’s upcoming upgrades, particularly a much-anticipated rear suspension update due for the Austrian Grand Prix, might transform the performance of the SF-25. The team is also developing a new floor, aiming to stabilize the car’s unpredictability and unlock its potential.

Hamilton has only outperformed Leclerc once, and strategy played a key role
Lewis Hamilton’s season got off to a promising start with a strong reception from fans in Maranello. Over 1,000 spectators visited Fiorano to watch his maiden run in a Ferrari, and an estimated 5,000 lined the circuit for his February test laps in the SF-25. The energy around his arrival was undeniable, and hopes were high that his vast experience could bring Ferrari back into title contention.

However, adaptation has been slow. Charles Leclerc has clearly had the upper hand in recent rounds, securing three podiums in the last five races and maintaining a stronger average finishing position of P4.2 compared to Lewis Hamilton’s P6. The only time Hamilton has finished ahead of his teammate this season was at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, and even that result came with a caveat: Ferrari opted not to pit Charles Leclerc during a late safety car period, a strategic misstep that cost the Monegasque track position.

Lewis Hamilton’s belief in Ferrari’s long-term vision remains—for now. But with the internal dynamics reportedly shifting and technical struggles persisting, pressure is mounting on both the team and its marquee signing to turn things around before hopes for 2025 are completely dashed.