Ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari’s driver line-up was widely regarded as the strongest on the grid, featuring the combination of long-time team stalwart Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Monegasque, a product of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has spent the majority of his career with the Scuderia and understands the intricacies of the team’s culture and operations better than most. Meanwhile, Hamilton joined the team with the ambition of capturing one final title with the sport’s most iconic outfit, aiming to end his legendary career on a high.
Hamilton entered the new campaign feeling confident, particularly after enduring a challenging final chapter with Mercedes. Leclerc, however, was more cautious in his pre-season assessments of Ferrari’s SF-25. That caution has somewhat faded following the introduction of the team’s first major floor upgrade, which allowed Leclerc to secure a podium finish and show visible progress. In contrast, Hamilton has struggled to find performance, finishing seventh in Saudi Arabia and expressing clear frustration.
What’s emerging as a more significant concern for team boss Fred Vasseur is not just the gap in results between his drivers, but the diverging technical feedback they’re offering. Hamilton and Leclerc appear to be heading in opposite directions in terms of car setup, particularly around front wing adjustments—an issue that could complicate Ferrari’s development path moving forward.
Reports reveal a major divergence in Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s feedback
Motorsport journalist and Formula 1 expert Roberto Chinchero, speaking on the James Allen on F1 Podcast, highlighted a telling discrepancy between the two Ferrari drivers. While the Monegasque is frequently requesting additional front wing angle during pit stops—seeking a sharper front-end feel—Hamilton has consistently asked for less, suggesting a fundamental discomfort with the SF-25’s balance during braking and cornering phases.
The Italian journalist explained that Lewis Hamilton seems to have explored every feasible setup solution with his engineers but remains unsatisfied. This indicates that the British driver might require broader car characteristics to change—ones not easily addressed through conventional setup tweaks. The deeper issue lies in whether Ferrari can accommodate such a request while still progressing overall performance. With the Monegasque thriving under the current setup philosophy, shifting development priorities could risk undermining one driver’s momentum to support the other.
The veteran journalist also suggested that after more than a decade with Mercedes, The Briton’s deeply ingrained driving instincts may now clash with what the Ferrari demands. Adapting his style at this stage in his career could prove incredibly difficult. And given that he is already several tenths off his teammate, the disparity has become a major concern.
Ferrari’s 2025 qualifying weakness adds to Lewis Hamilton’s challenges
A further complication is Ferrari’s ongoing struggle to deliver strong qualifying performance in 2025. Despite boasting two of the most accomplished qualifiers in Formula 1 history—Leclerc being one of the best one-lap specialists and Hamilton the only driver with over 100 pole positions—the SF-25 appears to lack the edge in low-fuel, high-grip conditions. Hamilton has only beaten Leclerc once in qualifying, and that came during the Sprint Race in Shanghai.
Insiders suggest that Ferrari may be grappling with an underlying design flaw that particularly hinders the car’s performance during qualifying sessions. If true, this issue is only compounding Hamilton’s difficulties as he tries to adapt to a new environment and machinery that doesn’t suit his driving style.
Ferrari now faces a crucial decision: understand and reconcile the contrasting setup needs of both drivers or risk losing ground in both championships. Without addressing the divide, Lewis Hamilton could be left trailing not only Leclerc but also the top contenders in a season that was supposed to mark Ferrari’s resurgence.
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