Ferrari is stirring Hamilton's anger, as they contemplate a change in their driving lineup.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, has faced a challenging debut year with Ferrari, failing to secure a podium finish in more than half a season and 14 races. The British driver has been struggling to find his rhythm and match the pace of teammate Charles Leclerc.
Early optimism surrounding Hamilton's move to Ferrari has not materialised, with the combination of the veteran driver and Ferrari's car falling short of title-winning performances. Hamilton has faced a difficult debut year marked by poor qualifying results, race pace inconsistencies, and being outperformed by Leclerc in the vast majority of races so far.
The 2025 Ferrari car (SF-25) and the current regulations seem not to suit Hamilton’s driving style, especially the ground-effect aero cars introduced in recent years. The imminent rule changes for 2026 give some hope that a new car formula might better play to Hamilton’s strengths and potentially revive his competitiveness with Ferrari.
In the Hungarian Grand Prix, Leclerc secured an unexpected pole position, while Hamilton finished 12th in the grid battle. Hamilton expressed frustration after his qualifying session, stating that the car is on pole and the team is not the problem. He referred to himself as "completely useless" in the context of the qualifying session.
Despite his struggles with Ferrari, Hamilton expressed support for Leclerc's pole position achievement. The Hungarian Grand Prix, known for being difficult for overtaking, could prove challenging for Hamilton to make up ground during the race.
The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the 14th race of the Formula One season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren starting ahead of Hamilton on the grid. As the season progresses past the half-year mark, both team insiders and observers question whether Hamilton can regain his form and whether he still believes in his ability to win races and championships with Ferrari.
Hamilton admitted he did not feel like he could fight for a better result during the weekend, and he suspects he might "shed a few tears" during the upcoming summer break. The 2025 Ferrari car has proven to be a tough nut to crack for Hamilton, and it remains to be seen whether he can turn his fortunes around in the second half of the season.
Hamilton's difficult debut season with Ferrari continued in the Hungarian Grand Prix, as he found himself starting 12th on the grid, while Leclerc secured an unexpected pole position. Despite his struggles, Hamilton still expressed support for Leclerc's achievement, acknowledging that the car might be the issue rather than the team. However, the imminent rule changes for 2026 offer some hope for Hamilton, as he hopes that a new car formula will better suit his driving style and potentially revive his competitiveness in football, a sport he enjoys playing during his downtime.
