Lewis Hamilton’s lessons from McLaren could guide Ferrari through a challenging 2025 season
The 2025 Formula 1 season marks yet another chapter in Lewis Hamilton’s long and distinguished career, but it is far from the first time the seven-time world champion has faced significant struggles on the track. Hamilton first made his mark in 2008, narrowly missing out on the championship during his rookie season with McLaren before clinching his maiden world title. That dramatic season famously ended with Lewis Hamilton overtaking Timo Glock on the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, denying Felipe Massa what remains Ferrari’s most recent drivers’ championship victory.
Seventeen years later, and with six further world titles to his name, Hamilton has taken on a new challenge: joining Ferrari in pursuit of breaking Michael Schumacher’s record for the most championship wins with one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams. Yet, even with his vast experience, Hamilton has come under scrutiny, particularly following comments made by Ferrari president John Elkann after the latest race at Interlagos, where both he and Charles Leclerc faced criticism.
Currently, Ferrari sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, and both team principal Fred Vasseur and Elkann would do well to consider the wisdom Hamilton shared with his mentor and idol, Niki Lauda, during his most difficult season with McLaren back in 2009.
Hamilton’s guidance to Ferrari draws on his toughest season at McLaren
In a 2009 video interview shared by Motorsport, Hamilton opened up to Lauda about the struggles he faced after winning his first title. He revealed that emotionally, while he knew how to win races, the experience of preparing to succeed only to finish at the back of the field was profoundly demoralizing. He also noted the added pressure from media scrutiny and comparisons to teammates, particularly Jenson Button, who was performing strongly at the time.
Lewis Hamilton reflected on the frustration of being unable to respond to criticism by simply driving faster, recognizing that car performance was often beyond his control. He explained that a key source of motivation for him was knowing that his team would never give up. Hamilton emphasized the importance of a shared mentality, where every member of the team pushes forward regardless of setbacks, and noted that he always tried to lift the team’s spirits each weekend to keep morale high and maintain focus on performance.
Applying McLaren lessons to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s early post-championship years at McLaren were difficult. Brawn GP dominated the start of the 2009 season, with Red Bull closing in rapidly as the year progressed. Hamilton himself could only secure fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, waiting until the Hungarian Grand Prix—the tenth race of the season—to claim his first win of the year. Lauda played a crucial role in helping Hamilton navigate this challenging period, listening to his concerns and offering guidance.
Now at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton is attempting to implement a similar approach, aiming to influence the team culture from within. Ferrari is widely recognized for its insular structure, which can make internal change difficult. There are reports, however, that some within the Scuderia are not fully receptive to Lewis Hamilton’s efforts to instill a resilient, forward-looking mentality. Should this resistance continue, it could limit the potential success of the partnership, even with a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s calibre and experience.
Lewis Hamilton’s career demonstrates that challenges, no matter how formidable, can be overcome with perseverance, teamwork, and the right mindset. His insights from McLaren’s toughest season could prove invaluable to Ferrari as they seek to regain their position at the top of Formula 1, potentially guiding the team toward breaking long-standing records and returning to championship-winning form.
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