Hamilton cannot ‘stand’ one characteristic of the SF-25 and makes an appeal: “I hope that next year…”
Lewis Hamilton has joined Ferrari but has not managed to perform at his usual level with the SF-25. The seven-time world champion admits he cannot stand one particular characteristic of the Maranello car and has made a clear appeal for the future.
The British driver is going through a very complicated season in terms of results. The SF-25 suffers from design flaws that have prevented it from being a truly competitive Formula 1 car, but Hamilton has highlighted one specific feature he no longer tolerates and hopes it will disappear in 2026.
At the moment, Lewis Hamilton is clearly losing the head-to-head against Charles Leclerc. The car’s strong front end suits the Monegasque driver’s style, but the rear is too unstable, a weakness that also penalises Leclerc’s performance. While Charles Leclerc is capable of taming the instability at the back, Hamilton cannot adapt in the same way. Throughout his career, the Briton has driven cars that were stable and well-balanced. He has gradually changed his approach to try to get closer to his teammate’s style, and although the gap between them has narrowed, Lewis Hamilton is already impatient to drive the 2026 Ferrari.
Hamilton: “I have to apply this new driving style”
Lewis Hamilton explained: “For me it is clear, and I know I have been driving this car all year. In previous years, I was part of a car that evolved over time. I felt comfortable and knew the driving style perfectly. This year I arrive at the track and I have to apply this new driving style, which still feels alien and not natural for a car. That’s how it has to work. During the race I am improving more and more, becoming faster and gaining the confidence I lacked at the start of the weekend. I hope that next year the driving style will not feel so unnatural to me and that we can return to something I am used to.”
As already mentioned, Lewis Hamilton has been forced to modify his driving style, stripping away some of the core traits that usually allow him to unlock performance. The SF-25 suffers from many weaknesses, including excessive skid block wear. The change in the front suspension design was not pushed far enough in the right direction, which also caused imbalances in the rear mechanics. Looking ahead to 2026, there are many doubts not only about the new Ferrari power unit but also about the car’s overall package. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, however, hope that Maranello will finally provide a car capable of competing at the very top.
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