Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Formula 1 season has been a struggle from the start, and the Qatar Sprint only added to his challenges as he qualified 18th. For the seven-time world champion, the hope is that the upcoming 2026 regulations will better suit his driving style, but for now, each weekend seems to bring more frustration than progress.
In 2025, the Briton has faced difficulties even in the qualifying sessions. Including Sprint events, he has been eliminated in Q1 on four occasions and has only managed to secure a top-three qualifying position twice. The gap between his expectations and the reality at Ferrari has become increasingly apparent, even as Charles Leclerc has shown more comfort and competitiveness in the SF-25.
Hamilton and Ferrari’s challenge to end the title drought
When Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari, the team was coming off a strong 2024 season, finishing just 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings. While Lewis Hamilton anticipated a package capable of challenging for victories, the 2025 car has fallen short of those expectations. Even Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s other driver, has struggled to consistently challenge the leaders, highlighting deeper issues with the team’s performance.
Lewis Hamilton’s goal of ending Ferrari’s championship drought—stretching back to 2007—has proven far more difficult than anticipated. Ferrari’s last dominant period was during Michael Schumacher’s era, when he combined his talent with a strong support network, including key figures such as Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, Jean Todt, and Stefano Domenicali. Martin Brundle has suggested that Hamilton hoped to replicate Schumacher’s success but lacks the same level of personnel and stability around him to transform Ferrari as Schumacher did.
Brundle: Hamilton hasn’t had the right support at Ferrari
Martin Brundle told Sky Sports at Lusail that Lewis Hamilton’s ambition to emulate Michael Schumacher was understandable, but the current Ferrari environment makes it far more challenging. Schumacher’s success in his early years at Ferrari relied on a team of highly experienced technical experts, combined with the Ferrari organization at its peak. Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, has not been able to bring key personnel from his time at Mercedes, and the team is facing significant developmental hurdles with the SF-25.
Martin Brundle highlighted that Hamilton’s situation is inherently more difficult today because of the lack of the right support network. He noted that if Hamilton had been able to bring a few trusted engineers or personnel from Mercedes, it could have helped accelerate the team’s improvement and allowed him to challenge more effectively at Ferrari.
Comparing Hamilton to Schumacher’s first season at Ferrari
Michael Schumacher’s first year at Ferrari in 1996 was not without challenges. Schumacher did not have a car capable of competing with the dominant Williams drivers, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, yet he managed to secure podium finishes in half of the races and claimed three wins, including a victory on just his seventh start in red. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton has now set a record for the most Ferrari appearances without a podium finish, underscoring the struggles he has faced since joining the team.
Former McLaren engineer Marc Priestley has observed that Lewis Hamilton’s confidence appears to have been eroded over time. Having worked with the Briton when he first entered F1, Priestley notes a stark difference in the seven-time world champion’s demeanor. Lewis Hamilton himself admitted at the same race a year ago that he no longer feels as fast as before, raising questions about whether he truly believes he can contend for another world championship under Ferrari’s current circumstances.
Looking ahead: Can Hamilton turn it around?
Despite the challenges, Lewis Hamilton remains focused on working with Ferrari to improve the SF-25 and adapt to its handling characteristics. The hope for both Hamilton and the team is that upcoming regulation changes in 2026, as well as the winter testing program, will provide opportunities to develop a car that better suits his driving style. For now, though, Hamilton’s 2025 season continues to be defined by unmet expectations, development struggles, and a growing contrast between his performance and Charles Leclerc’s more comfortable handling of the Ferrari machinery.
