Martin Brundle’s big pre-season prediction for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari still hasn’t materialised

Lewis Hamilton’s Difficult Start to Life at Ferrari Continues as 2025 Season Reaches Critical Stage

Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut season with Scuderia Ferrari has not unfolded in the way the seven-time Formula 1 world champion might have envisioned when he signed with the iconic Maranello-based team. Now halfway through the 2025 Formula One campaign, Hamilton is still chasing his first podium finish in a Grand Prix while facing ongoing challenges adapting to the SF-25.

Despite these setbacks, Lewis Hamilton has shown no signs of giving up. Throughout his legendary career, the British driver has demonstrated an unrelenting determination to fight for success, and that drive remains firmly intact as he continues his quest for a record-breaking eighth world title. Ferrari, in turn, have the responsibility of ensuring that they provide the Briton with a competitive package—particularly for the critical 2026 season when new regulations come into play.

While this year was always expected to be a transitional one for Ferrari, the team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring performance updates to their car. According to recent reports, the team believes that a significant breakthrough—described internally as a “quantum leap”—could soon help close the gap to the front-runners. If the next wave of upgrades proves effective, Hamilton could still emerge as a Grand Prix contender in the latter part of 2025.

Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill believes that Lewis Hamilton has the potential to solve one of Ferrari’s biggest weaknesses—development direction. Hill has suggested that Hamilton’s vast experience and technical feedback could be a crucial asset for the Scuderia, helping them refine their car and potentially becoming the final piece of the puzzle that the team has been missing for years.

Martin Brundle’s Early Hamilton Prediction Yet to Materialize at Ferrari

Before the 2025 season got underway, long-time F1 pundit and former driver Martin Brundle made what many considered a bold prediction regarding Lewis Hamilton’s potential performance in red. Brundle anticipated that the British driver would claim at least two race victories with Ferrari during the season. While Hamilton did win the Sprint Race in Shanghai earlier in the year, that success does not count as a full Grand Prix victory—and Martin Brundle was likely referring to traditional Sunday races.

So far, Martin Brundle’s optimistic forecast has yet to come true. Ferrari’s early-season promise has been hampered by persistent issues with the SF-25. 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell has gone as far as to say that the team “lost something” with Hamilton’s arrival, suggesting that Ferrari’s car has slipped from being a regular victory contender to merely the third or fourth fastest on many circuits.

One of the team’s most pressing issues has been linked to the car’s power steering system, which has caused problems with the feedback drivers receive through the wheel. This deficiency has contributed to both Hamilton’s and Charles Leclerc’s struggles, particularly in wet or high-speed conditions. However, with key upgrades—including a revised rear suspension package—now being introduced, Ferrari are hoping to address many of their core weaknesses in the second half of the season.

Hamilton Sets Unwanted Career Record During 2025 Season

While Lewis Hamilton remains focused on getting back to winning ways, the 2025 season has already seen him break one of his own personal records—but not in the way he would have liked. By failing to reach the podium in the last two races, the Briton has now extended his longest-ever streak without a top-three finish to 14 consecutive Grand Prix. His previous record stood at 12, set between the 2023 and 2024 seasons during his final years with Mercedes.

The British driver came agonizingly close to ending that drought at the 2025 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, where a strong performance was ultimately hampered by unexpected car issues—reportedly an engine mapping problem that denied him the pace to challenge for third place. In the end, it was Nico Hülkenberg who stole the spotlight, finally scoring the first podium of his long career by finishing just ahead of Hamilton.

As the Formula 1 calendar moves toward the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Lewis Hamilton sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 103 points, a tally that includes 14 points from Sprint events. While the season has been far from what Hamilton or the Tifosi had hoped for, there remains cautious optimism that a turnaround could be within reach—particularly if Ferrari’s latest technical updates deliver the performance gains they’re expecting.