Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in Formula 1 has been far below the expectations set by both the seven-time world champion and the Scuderia. After leaving Mercedes for Maranello in 2025, Hamilton was welcomed with fanfare and hailed as a potential title contender, but the reality of his first season has been starkly different.
Arriving in January 2025 to replace Carlos Sainz, Hamilton initially expressed optimism about Ferrari’s chances, stating that the team had “every ingredient” necessary to challenge for the world championship. However, with just three rounds remaining in the season, Lewis Hamilton finds himself sixth in the drivers’ standings with 148 points, far behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who leads the championship with 390 points, and even trailing his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who sits fifth with 214 points.
The Scuderia’s struggles have extended to the constructors’ championship as well. Following a double retirement at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Ferrari has dropped from second to fourth, trailing Mercedes by 36 points and Red Bull by four. These results highlight a season of underperformance and missed opportunities for the Italian team.
Hamilton’s confidence affected by Ferrari’s lack of high-level expertise
Part of Hamilton’s challenges in Maranello stem from Ferrari’s organizational issues. The British driver has submitted detailed feedback documents to the team, outlining changes he believes are necessary for Ferrari to return to competitiveness. These documents reportedly highlight structural shortcomings and operational differences compared to what Lewis Hamilton experienced at Mercedes, where he thrived under a highly defined technical framework.
Luigi Mazzola, former Ferrari race engineer who worked with Michael Schumacher during his five championship wins, believes Ferrari’s lack of “high-level figures” similar to those Lewis Hamilton was accustomed to at Mercedes has had a direct impact on the driver’s confidence and motivation. Speaking to Fanpage, Luigi Mazzola explained that Hamilton arrived at Maranello expecting a car at least on par with Ferrari’s strong 2024 performance, only to face a challenging vehicle with complex setup issues and unfamiliar operational methods.
The Italian suggested that Hamilton’s attempts to apply his experience and influence team practices have been hindered by the absence of the kind of senior technical expertise he relied on at Mercedes. He added that when a driver is slower than a teammate, it is difficult to assert authority or be treated as a benchmark, which can further erode confidence.
Looking ahead to Ferrari and the 2026 F1 regulations
Lewis Hamilton’s record speaks for itself: six of his seven world titles were secured with Mercedes between 2014 and 2020, with the 2021 championship narrowly lost to Max Verstappen. The transition to ground-effect regulations in 2022 further challenged Lewis Hamilton, as the new car dynamics did not align with his natural driving style. Despite Mercedes struggling under these rules, Lewis Hamilton opted to join Ferrari in 2025, hoping for a fresh opportunity.
However, Ferrari’s 2025 car has not lived up to expectations, falling short despite their near-miss in the 2024 constructors’ championship. the Briton is now placing his hopes on Ferrari excelling under the new 2026 regulations, which are expected to produce cars more suited to his driving style. The success of his second season with Ferrari—and the potential for an eighth world title—may hinge on whether the team has fully incorporated his feedback and implemented the strategic changes he recommended.
Without decisive action and structural improvement, Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari campaign risks being remembered as a season of unrealized potential rather than the start of a record-breaking chapter in his career.
Leave a Reply