Valtteri Bottas identifies fundamental problem behind Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari

Valtteri Bottas Highlights the Key Challenge Holding Lewis Hamilton Back at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari has been anything but smooth, and according to Valtteri Bottas, one critical, “complex” area may be the root cause of his struggles. Bottas, who partnered Hamilton at Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, knows the seven-time world champion better than most, having witnessed firsthand the peak of his success — when Hamilton secured four of his six titles in Mercedes silver.

Now, in his new chapter with Ferrari, Hamilton appears a distant contender for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship. After switching from Mercedes to the Scuderia ahead of this season, the Briton has amassed only 30 points across the opening five rounds, failing to achieve a race finish higher than fifth place.

Persistent difficulties adapting to the nuances of Ferrari’s SF-25 have left Hamilton sitting seventh in the standings, trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 68 points. Ferrari’s internal assessments reportedly reflect disappointment as well, with teammate Charles Leclerc outperforming Hamilton and currently ranking fifth with 47 points.

Valtteri Bottas Pinpoints Ferrari’s Engine Management as Hamilton’s ‘Most Complex’ Hurdle

Ferrari’s engineers believe that Hamilton must refine his driving approach to fully harness the SF-25, particularly in handling the car’s notoriously unstable rear end — an issue that has hampered him during high-speed sections and heavy braking zones.

Yet, in Bottas’s view, Lewis Hamilton’s greatest challenge lies elsewhere. The Finnish driver suggests that Hamilton’s “most complex” obstacle is adapting to managing the intricacies of Ferrari’s power unit. Having driven Mercedes-powered cars exclusively throughout his F1 career until this season, Hamilton is navigating a steep learning curve with Ferrari’s engine — even though Bottas noted that the fundamental differences between the two power units are relatively minor.

Speaking to the Italian website Automoto.it, Valtteri Bottas explained that while the transition might not be overwhelmingly difficult, with only slight variations in drivability between engines, the real complexity stems from managing the settings and adjustments, particularly due to Ferrari’s different terminology and systems. Bottas emphasized that once a driver learns the basics of these adjustments, operating the power unit becomes significantly easier and more intuitive.

A Fresh Start: Valtteri Bottas Sees Positive Signs for Hamilton at Ferrari Despite Early Struggles

The Finnish driver himself is familiar with this transition. After leaving Mercedes, he spent the past three seasons at Sauber, where he gained experience with Ferrari’s power units, adding to a résumé that also includes driving Renault engines during his early Williams days in 2012 and 2013.

Now, Hamilton faces a similar adaptation process, after having relied exclusively on Mercedes’ V8 and V6 turbo-hybrid engines throughout his illustrious career from 2007 until 2024. Beyond the power unit, the Briton’s’s challenge is compounded by his ongoing battle to master the SF-25’s unique characteristics, which has seen him frequently lag behind Charles Leclerc — including a notable example in at the 6.174-kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia where he trailed his teammate in every session apart from Q1 and needed two runs just to advance.

Nevertheless, Valtteri Bottas remains optimistic about Lewis Hamilton’s prospects. Despite acknowledging that his former teammate is still deep in an adaptation phase, Bottas believes Hamilton has already demonstrated flashes of his enduring pace. He pointed to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend as a prime example, where Hamilton not only secured pole position for the Sprint but went on to dominate the race, finishing almost seven seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri.

The former Mercedes and Sauber driver conveyed that he sees the seven-time Formula 1 world champion as “doing well” overall and suggested that the move to Ferrari has injected new energy into the 39-year-old’s career. According to Valtteri Bottas, the challenges that Hamilton is currently facing could ultimately work in his favor, revitalizing his motivation and competitiveness for the seasons ahead.