Ferrari had a full year to anticipate Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in their driver lineup, with the announcement of the deal coming in February 2024, well ahead of Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes. The team approached the transition cautiously, knowing they had to maintain focus on their current projects while also preparing for the integration of the British seven-time World Champion into their operations.
During that period, Ferrari’s immediate attention remained on Carlos Sainz, Hamilton’s predecessor, and the team could not engage in formal discussions with the Briton due to his ongoing commitment with Mercedes. However, when shaping the design and development of the 2025 SF-25, it is likely that some consideration was given to Hamilton’s known preferences. Despite these preparations, after more than half of the season, it is clear that Hamilton has not yet fully adapted to Ferrari’s car. Evidence from onboard footage, radio transmissions, and interviews consistently suggests that he remains uncomfortable behind the wheel.
The SF-25 has presented challenges for both drivers, yet Charles Leclerc, who has been with Ferrari since 2019, has managed to find a rhythm with the car. The Monegasque has secured all five of Ferrari’s podiums so far in 2025, showing the ability to maximize the car’s potential, and he remains in contention to match his third-place championship finish from last year. Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, has struggled to extract similar performance, underlining the contrast in driving styles between the two Scuderia drivers.
Reports from the Italian media suggest Ferrari’s approach to understanding Hamilton’s driving style was flawed from the start. The team appears to have assumed that Hamilton’s preferences would align closely with those of Leclerc, with both drivers favouring a sharp, responsive front end and a controlled approach to rear-end sliding through precise throttle control. While Leclerc’s setup decisions have been consistent and effective, Hamilton has had to adapt and experiment in order to manage the SF-25’s more unpredictable rear-end behaviour.
Ralf Schumacher has noted that the Briton struggles with cars that have a “nervous” rear, and this appears to be exactly the challenge Hamilton has faced at Ferrari. The Maranello team’s assumption that both drivers could share setup data effectively has proven incorrect, as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s distinct driving approaches mean that shared information has often failed to provide meaningful improvements for either driver.
Another factor compounding Hamilton’s challenges is Ferrari’s simulator. Unlike his time at Mercedes, where the simulator allowed him to test and refine setups extensively, Hamilton has found Ferrari’s resources more limited, particularly due to the small number of base configurations. This restriction has made it harder for him to replicate his preferred driving style and optimize performance ahead of race weekends. The divergence between his feedback and that of Charles Leclerc has created additional difficulties in finding a development path that satisfies both drivers.
Looking forward, Ferrari faces a dilemma: whether to prioritize development around one driver or attempt a compromise that may not extract the full potential from either. Observers suggest the team is increasingly focused on Charles Leclerc, given his consistent performance this season. Hamilton retains the option to extend his contract through 2027, but the ongoing challenges with the SF-25 could influence his willingness to remain with the team if improvements are not made.
Behind the scenes, Lewis Hamilton has been putting in extensive work to address these issues, offering technical insights and detailed feedback to Ferrari engineers. Despite his efforts, limitations in the simulator and the fundamental differences between his driving style and the car’s characteristics have created obstacles in fully optimizing race setups. Addressing these issues will be crucial for both Hamilton’s performance and Ferrari’s ability to become more competitive in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Leave a Reply