New interpretations are emerging regarding Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties during his first season with Ferrari, with attention now focused on a problem that the British driver appears to have carried over from his time at Mercedes.
With the official start of 2026, Formula 1 is entering what will be Lewis Hamilton’s second season at Ferrari. This follows a 2025 campaign in which both the team and the British driver fell short of expectations set at the beginning of the year. Ralf Schumacher highlighted the strong mental pressure faced by the driver of car number 44 and recalled a long-standing issue that was also present during his Mercedes years.
Expectations and adaptation difficulties
“The expectations were high,” Ralf Schumacher told F1 Insider. “I received a lot of criticism when I said that he would not fight for the world championship and that he would need time to keep up with Charles Leclerc.”
“That is exactly what happened. Today there is no longer any testing. In the past, winter testing would have been very helpful,” he continued. “But behind the scenes you hear that he doesn’t like simulators and that he is still searching for that old driving feeling.”
Ralf Schumacher then ruled out age as the main factor behind Lewis Hamilton’s struggles. “That tells me that it’s not just a question of age, but also of mindset. He is no longer willing to open up. I know that feeling myself, even if on a different level,” he added.
Looking ahead, the former German driver did not sound optimistic. “Frédéric Vasseur is now hoping to be able to exploit the package better next year, but I think the chances are slim. The car is becoming more nervous. Charles Leclerc can handle it, whereas Lewis Hamilton needs more rear-end stability,” he explained.
Problems that predate Ferrari
Finally, Ralf Schumacher underlined a long-standing limitation of the British driver. “Hamilton has never been a big fan of making changes to the setup. That was already known back in his Formula 3 days. At Mercedes, Toto Wolff always said that the drivers drive and the team takes care of the setup. You can’t change that mindset overnight. It’s a weakness.”
“I also find it interesting when he says that only those who have never achieved his success criticise him. In essence he is right, but a bit more self-reflection would still do him good,” the former German driver concluded.
The dynamic between Lewis Hamilton’s traditional driving style and the increasingly sensitive nature of modern ground-effect cars remains a central challenge for Ferrari. As the 2026 season unfolds, the pressure will only mount on the Maranello technical team to provide a more stable platform that can bridge the gap between their star driver’s needs and the ultimate performance of the Maranello team’s 2026 F1 car.
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