Breaking: Lewis Hamilton Ferrari problems explained… Read more
Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated start at Ferrari in 2025 has been far from the fairytale many had hoped for. Through the opening rounds — particularly during the triple-header of Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia — Hamilton has looked increasingly disheartened, struggling to adapt to his new surroundings. After a disappointing seventh-place finish in Jeddah, the seven-time world champion admitted that the “pain” he’s experiencing may continue for much of the season before any real improvements are found.
This is a far cry from the vision that both Hamilton and Ferrari had when he made his high-profile move from Mercedes. The switch was supposed to reignite his championship ambitions, not deepen his challenges. His Ferrari career began with a 10th-place finish in Australia, setting a difficult tone. There was a momentary lift in China, where Hamilton secured pole for the sprint race and won it, showing a flash of his former dominance and suggesting a possible turning point.
However, the momentum quickly faded. Since the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton’s performances have slipped again with no clear recovery in sight. A closer look at the numbers against teammate Charles Leclerc highlights the scale of Hamilton’s struggles. Over six sprint and qualifying sessions, Hamilton has been outqualified by Leclerc four times. On average, Hamilton is 0.251 seconds slower per session — a respectable gap given Leclerc’s reputation as a one-lap expert, but still significant in such a closely packed grid.
Leclerc’s average starting spot is 4.6, compared to Hamilton’s 6.3. Focusing solely on grand prix qualifying, the gap is even more noticeable, with Hamilton averaging a 7.4 start position against Leclerc’s 4.8. In race results, Hamilton has managed to finish ahead of Leclerc just once — and that came during a sprint race, not a full grand prix. In Saudi Arabia, the difference was particularly striking, with Hamilton finishing 31 seconds behind his teammate.
While some of Hamilton’s troubles can be chalked up to bad luck — as the field is tightly compressed and small mistakes are heavily punished — the SF-25 itself isn’t a bad car. Leclerc’s performances in Saudi Arabia and Hamilton’s sprint success in China prove it can fight for wins and poles. The real issue seems to be Hamilton’s lack of comfort with the car. He continues to wrestle with balance issues and hasn’t yet found the confidence he needs in the setup.
For now, there is no quick fix. Both Hamilton and Ferrari must stay patient as they work together to extract the full potential from the car — and from a partnership that was supposed to revive Hamilton’s championship dreams.
