Lewis Hamilton’s debut season as a Scuderia Ferrari driver in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship has been far from straightforward, but recent performances suggest that the seven-time world champion and his new team are slowly starting to build momentum.
Since joining the iconic Italian outfit from Mercedes, the Briton has faced a steep learning curve, including adapting to a car that has, at times, proven unpredictable and difficult to master. Although he is still chasing his first podium in red, recent races—particularly his strong showing at the British Grand Prix—have shown glimpses of real potential. At Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton was close to finishing in the top three, but a combination of questionable strategic decisions by the Ferrari pit wall and a costly error on his outlap ultimately denied him a podium by just a few seconds.
This near miss added to a frustrating statistic: Lewis Hamilton is now enduring the longest podium drought of his distinguished Formula 1 career. The pressure is mounting, not only on the British driver but also on Ferrari, who must deliver a car capable of allowing him to compete at the front consistently.
Encouragingly for the Scuderia, recent upgrades have delivered tangible improvements, and the team is preparing to bring even more performance to the SF-25 at the final race before the summer break — the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Based on current form, Ferrari should no longer be far off the pace set by McLaren, one of the leading contenders this season.
One major concern, however, remains unresolved. Hamilton continues to struggle with Ferrari’s power steering system, which lacks the precision and feedback he became accustomed to during his years at Mercedes. The team has identified the steering rack’s poor feedback—especially in high-speed corners—as a critical weakness. In response, Ferrari is reportedly developing a significantly revised, lower-cost update to address this issue. If successful, it could help the SF-25 unlock even more lap time, particularly in qualifying trim.
Ferrari’s Qualifying Weakness Persists, but Lewis Hamilton’s Gap to Pole Is Shrinking
Despite some success in race trim, Ferrari has continued to face challenges during qualifying sessions throughout the 2025 season. In fact, Lewis Hamilton has suffered two Q1 eliminations already this year and has yet to secure a front-row start. The inability to consistently perform over one lap has made it difficult for Ferrari to fully capitalise on their race pace, often leaving their drivers to recover from difficult grid positions.
Improving the car’s Saturday performance will be a top priority, particularly with sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026. To consistently challenge for wins and titles, Ferrari must ensure they are not solely reliant on Sunday strategy and tyre management to climb through the field.
There is, however, a notable bright spot in Hamilton’s recent form. His average gap to pole position over the past six Grand Prix weekends has decreased by nearly two-tenths of a second when compared to the first six races of the season. This narrowing deficit suggests that both Hamilton and the team are gradually understanding how to extract more performance from the SF-25, indicating promising progress in their collaboration.
Insiders Express Concern Over Lewis Hamilton’s Adaptation—but 2026 Could Be a Turning Point
Despite signs of improvement, not everyone within the Formula 1 paddock is convinced that Hamilton will ultimately thrive at Ferrari. According to reports from insiders close to the team, there is concern that Hamilton may struggle to fully adapt to Ferrari’s particular operational style and car philosophy, even after six months with the team. The SF-25 remains a tricky machine to master, and some within the team fear that Lewis Hamilton’s efforts to adjust may never reach full fruition under the current technical package.
However, hope lies ahead in the form of Formula 1’s next regulatory overhaul, which will debut in the 2026 season. By then, Lewis Hamilton will have completed a full year with Ferrari and will have had extensive input into the design and development of their next-generation car. His experience, technical feedback, and preference for car behaviour—particularly regarding steering and balance—are expected to be integrated into the new project from an earlier stage.
This longer development timeline could offer the Briton a platform more tailored to his driving style, potentially unlocking a higher level of performance. With an option in his contract to extend his stay at Ferrari through the 2027 season, the British driver may still have a genuine opportunity to fight for victories—and possibly an eighth world title—before he calls time on his illustrious career.
Leave a Reply