Unconventional Campaign of Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is experiencing a challenging season with his new team, Ferrari. After several years in a Mercedes, Hamilton is driving a completely new car, and it seems the transition has not been smooth.
Hamilton has not secured a podium finish and has not finished better than fourth in qualifying this season. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, has been performing better, securing pole position in Hungary. In the same race, Hamilton was self-critical after being eliminated in the second qualifying session.
The SF-25, Ferrari's car this season, lacks pace and is difficult to handle, making it harder for Hamilton to extract consistent top results. Hamilton has publicly expressed concerns about his speed and form, admitting that he feels “definitely not fast anymore.”
The cultural and technical transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has proven tougher than expected for Hamilton. After nearly 20 years with Mercedes and McLaren, the switch to Ferrari brought major changes in software, people, and working methods that Hamilton is still adapting to.
Internal team dynamics and pressure have also mounted. Hamilton has hinted at unspecified “background” issues within Ferrari, and pressure has increased publicly after tough qualifying sessions. Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi has raised concern about the growing tension around Hamilton at the team.
Both Hamilton and Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledge the underestimated scale of the challenge. They suggest that further time and support are needed to allow Hamilton to fully settle into the team environment and car. Technical improvements in the SF-25's drivability and pace are crucial for Hamilton to regain competitiveness and confidence.
Addressing the loss of confidence with psychological and training support could help Hamilton restore his form. The hinted “background” problems need resolution to reduce off-track distractions and improve team cohesion.
Looking toward 2026, Ferrari and Hamilton may prioritize building towards the season when new regulations and car designs may better suit the team and driver's strengths. However, Hamilton has made it clear that he wants to win and doesn't want to be part of the trend of unsatisfying results that Ferrari has had over the last 20 years.
Hamilton's age, at 40, can't be ignored. He has 31 points fewer than he had at this stage last season, and 45 fewer than in 2021. On Sky Sports, Hamilton called himself "useless, absolutely useless" to his team and suggested that the team might need to replace him.
However, Vasseur came to Hamilton's defense, stating that he is "demanding," but not demotivated. In the last two Grands Prix, Hamilton finished fourth in Austria and Britain. Despite the tough months, Hamilton expressed his desire to win and his determination to overcome the challenges.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, at 44, secured a fifth place in Budapest with his Aston Martin, showing that age is not a barrier to success in Formula 1. The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Lewis Hamilton is facing some of the toughest months of his illustrious career.
Despite the challenging season with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton remains resolute and determined, stating that he doesn't want to be part of unsatisfying results and is aiming to win. In the realm of sports, age doesn't seem to be a barrier, as demonstrated by Ferrando Alonso's fifth place finish at Budapest with Aston Martin, further emphasizing the persisting struggle and potential redemption in Lewis Hamilton's career.
