Mercedes Team Principal Trevor Wolff voiced his faith in Lewis Hamilton's ability to thrive with Ferrari, should the seven-time F1 champion decide to make a move.

Redefining Red: Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari Struggles and Future Prospects

After a decade-long stint at Mercedes, the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, made a bold move to join Ferrari this season. However, the Briton's performances so far have been underwhelming, with Charles Leclerc leaving him in his dust.

The sprinkle of stardust came in the form of a win at the Shanghai sprint race, a testament to Hamilton's enduring prowess. As the Mercedes team CEO, Toto Wolff, succinctly put it, "He dominated that race, and it's not like you have that magic in one race, and then suddenly you lose it."

Wolff emphasized that Hamilton's current hurdles are a natural byproduct of switching cars and teams after such a long tenure with Mercedes. "It's a trajectory that any new driver needs to go through at a top team," he declared.

Rumors surrounding the future of George Russell, who's nearing the end of his contract with Mercedes, have been making the rounds. Wolff assured, "George is part of the Mercedes family, and always has been. As I see things today, why break a team that is on a positive trajectory?"

Since Hamilton's departure, Russell has thrived, transitioning from the shadows to becoming the team's guiding light. "When a seven-time world champion leaves the team, George was a little bit in the shadow of Lewis, as we all were," Wolff acknowledged. "But he is now the one that gives the direction, he can be relied on. And he has massively stepped up."

Behind the Headlines

The query refers to the 2022 Formula One season, but the available information primarily covers the 2025 season. In the 2025 season, Hamilton has faced challenges adjusting to the SF-25 car, particularly with rear-end stability during downshifts and setup issues. Leclerc leads Hamilton in the standings, with a significant gap between them. Russell, on the other hand, ranks fourth with consistent, better performances.

In the 2022 season, Hamilton drove for Mercedes alongside Russell. That year, Russell outperformed Hamilton in qualifying and scored Mercedes' only win. Hamilton finished sixth in the standings, while Russell placed fourth. Leclerc started the season strongly but fell behind due to reliability issues.

For the 2025 season, Hamilton is working extensively on the simulator at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters to regain his form.

Lewis Hamilton, despite facing challenges with the SF-25 car in the 2025 Formula One season, clearly demonstrated his dominance in the Shanghai sprint race, a testament to his enduring prowess.
John Elkann, the chairman of Ferrari, recently acknowledged that Hamilton's struggles with the SF-25 car are not uncommon for drivers who switch teams and cars after a long tenure, like Hamilton did from Mercedes.
In the 2025 season sports-analysis, it is predicted that Hamilton will have a hard time catching up with Charles Leclerc, who is currently dominating the season.
Despite the George Russell contract talks in 2022, with the 2025 season in mind, Toto Wolff, Mercedes team CEO, has emphasized that Russell remains a crucial part of the Mercedes family, and they aim to maintain the team's positive trajectory with him.