Lewis Hamilton urged to prioritise performance over pay and make key sacrifice to succeed at Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton’s tough start at Ferrari has sparked criticism from Lucas di Grassi.

Lewis Hamilton is still seeking a breakthrough moment with Ferrari after a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite his status as a seven-time world champion, the British driver has amassed only 41 points from the opening six Grands Prix and has yet to finish higher than fifth in a Sunday race since his high-profile move from Mercedes to Maranello.

Lewis Hamilton’s best moments in red have come during Sprint events, where his experience and tactical acumen have shone. A decisive early switch to slick tyres after rainfall in the Miami Sprint earned him a third-place finish, following a Sprint victory in Shanghai. Yet the positivity from those performances failed to carry into the main events. Ferrari were left stunned as the British driver followed up his Miami Sprint podium by qualifying just 12th for the Grand Prix mere hours later.

The Miami weekend also seemed to expose growing friction between Lewis Hamilton and the Maranello team. Throughout the race, the Briton voiced his discontent over the team’s use of strategy and team orders, making his dissatisfaction increasingly apparent over the radio. His reactions suggested a driver struggling to adjust to life at Ferrari and to a car that still appears unsuited to his driving style.

Lucas di Grassi questions Hamilton’s hunger and willingness to sacrifice at Ferrari

As the championship moves to Ferrari’s home race at Imola, former F1 driver Lucas di Grassi has raised questions about Lewis Hamilton’s motivation and readiness to make personal sacrifices to return to the top. Di Grassi, who previously raced against Hamilton in karting, junior formulas and briefly in F1, speculated that the 40-year-old’s vast wealth and long career could be contributing factors to his underperformance.

Speaking to RacingNews365, Lucas di Grassi remarked that Lewis Hamilton’s drive might be diminished due to age, success, and his financial security. He suggested that Lewis Hamilton may no longer be willing to dedicate the same energy and commitment to preparation as he once did in the earlier stages of his career. This includes time spent on the simulator and the all-consuming focus required to battle for a championship.

The Brazilian racing driver, who competes in Formula E for Lola Yamaha ABT, implied that such factors, combined with the natural course of a long career, might be hampering Lewis Hamilton’s ability to consistently challenge younger rivals. He also hinted that unless Lewis Hamilton is willing to “compromise” aspects of his current lifestyle, regaining championship-winning form could remain elusive.

Lewis Hamilton’s wealth off the track contrasts with struggles on it

The British driver remains one of the most financially successful figures in motorsport. With a reported net worth of £350 million, he was recently named by the Sunday Times Rich List as one of the UK’s wealthiest individuals under 40. Yet despite his vast off-track success, results on the circuit have not matched expectations at Ferrari.

His fifth-place finish in Bahrain remains his best Sunday result this season, with lower-scoring efforts in Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Miami underscoring the team’s and driver’s struggles. Ferrari had expected more from Lewis Hamilton by this stage, especially after narrowly missing out on the constructors’ championship in 2024.

In response to their early-season shortcomings, Ferrari engineers are exploring technical upgrades, including a surprise suspension development aimed at addressing a major issue. The SF-25’s unpredictable handling—particularly in qualifying—is believed to be a significant obstacle for Lewis Hamilton, whose precision and feel for car behaviour are key aspects of his driving style.

As Ferrari work to make the SF-25 more responsive and adaptable, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion will need to consider whether he is prepared to make the same level of sacrifice and investment that once defined his career. Only then might the partnership begin to deliver the success both parties had envisioned.