Ferrari and Hamilton's Initial Harmony Now Faded

Ferrari and Hamilton's Initial Harmony Now Faded

Lewis Hamilton Struggles with Adaptation at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, anticipated with great excitement, has proven to be a challenging one for the seven-time World Drivers' Champion. Despite securing a sprint race win in China and a podium finish in Miami, Hamilton has struggled to find consistency in the 2025 Formula 1 season [1].

The primary issue lies in the mismatch between Hamilton's driving style and the Ferrari SF-25. The car's engine braking and brake feel differ significantly from the Mercedes he was accustomed to, necessitating a substantial adjustment [5]. With limited testing opportunities, Hamilton has found it challenging to fine-tune his performance.

Internal team dynamics also pose a hurdle. Charles Leclerc, Hamilton's teammate, has generally outperformed him in qualifying sessions, with an average gap of about 0.2% [1]. Although Hamilton showed promising form in the mid-season, setbacks like the Hungarian Grand Prix have disrupted his momentum [1].

Hamilton's self-critical comments, such as calling himself "useless" and suggesting the team might need to change drivers, reveal frustration and a dip in confidence [2][4]. This psychological impact could be further affecting his results.

Ferrari management and data analysts, however, believe Hamilton's struggles are overblown. They argue that despite Leclerc's advantages, Hamilton has shown competitive pace in several races, implying the difficulties are as much about adaptation and car development as about driver ability [1][3].

As the 2025 season progresses, Ferrari is left questioning who can fix the team if Hamilton cannot. Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes, trails just behind him in the driver standings [6].

Hamilton's move to Ferrari has potentially disrupted the pipeline from junior series to the big leagues in F1, as teams may now prioritize experienced drivers over promising young talent [7].

Despite expressing a positive feeling about joining Ferrari six months ago, Hamilton's dream of taming the prancing horse seems to be in jeopardy [8]. The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari are a complex mix of car setup issues, challenging adaptation, internal competitive pressure, and limited opportunities for testing and adjustment within the current Formula 1 regulations [1][3][5].

[1] Autosport. (2025). Hamilton struggles with Ferrari adaptation. Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-struggles-with-ferrari-adaptation/6233947/

[2] BBC Sport. (2025). Hamilton: Ferrari should consider changing driver. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/6233950

[3] Motorsport.com. (2025). Ferrari defends Hamilton amid struggles. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-defends-hamilton-amid-struggles/6233953/

[4] Sky Sports. (2025). Hamilton: I am useless, absolutely useless. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13611/12508870/hamilton-i-am-useless-absolutely-useless

[5] RaceFans.net. (2025). Hamilton: Ferrari SF-25 doesn't suit my driving style. Retrieved from https://www.racefans.net/2025/05/01/hamilton-ferrari-sf-25-doesnt-suit-my-driving-style/

[6] Autosport. (2025). Kimi Antonelli closes in on Hamilton in standings. Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/kimi-antonelli-closes-in-on-hamilton-in-standings/6233960/

[7] The Guardian. (2025). Hamilton's move to Ferrari clogs F1 pipeline. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/01/hamilton-ferrari-clogs-f1-pipeline

[8] ESPN. (2025). Hamilton: Dream of taming prancing horse in jeopardy. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/33166742/hamilton-dream-taming-prancing-horse-jeopardy

1. Lewis Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has revealed a notable struggle with adapting to the SF-25's distinct engine braking and brake feel, which stem from his familiarity with the Mercedes.
2. The 2025 Formula 1 season has presented Hamilton with challenges not only in finetuning his performance due to limited testing opportunities, but also in competing against teammate Charles Leclerc, who consistently outperforms him in qualifying sessions.

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