Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles: Disappointment and C… read more
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been labelled a “disappointment” by former F1 driver Christian Danner as his much-anticipated move to Ferrari continues to yield underwhelming results. Since his sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari in January, Hamilton has been unable to reignite the Italian team’s championship hopes. Instead, he finds himself languishing in seventh place in the drivers’ standings—two positions behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari’s SF-25 car has proven to be a major hurdle, lacking the pace required to contend with front-runners like Red Bull and McLaren. The team currently sits fourth in the constructors’ championship, a disappointing position given they narrowly missed out on second place at the end of the previous season. The anticipated leap forward following Hamilton’s arrival has failed to materialize, exposing deeper systemic issues within the team and casting doubt on the effectiveness of the British driver’s impact so far.
While both drivers have struggled, Hamilton’s performances have come under particular scrutiny. He has been outqualified by Leclerc in five out of six main race sessions and has managed only one top-five finish so far this season. These statistics highlight the challenges Hamilton faces in adapting to the Ferrari machinery, as well as the strength of Leclerc’s familiarity with the team and car.
Christian Danner, speaking to Sport.de, reflected on Hamilton’s difficulties, saying, “Actually, he’s a disappointment, albeit an understandable one. He probably thought he would come along, show Leclerc, Ferrari, and the world how to drive a race car, and be the saviour for the breakthrough to success. But it’s been very tough, very tedious, and not going smoothly to this day.”
Danner’s remarks echo those of Ralf Schumacher, another former F1 driver, who recently speculated that Hamilton might not see out his contract with Ferrari if things do not improve. The mounting frustration appears to be showing, not just in Hamilton’s results, but in his increasingly tense radio communications during races.
At the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton’s sarcasm over the team radio raised eyebrows. When Ferrari hesitated to issue team orders to let him pass Leclerc—despite Hamilton being on faster tyres—he quipped, “Have a tea break while you’re at it,” in a clear expression of annoyance. Later, when the team asked him to be aware of Carlos Sainz closing in behind, he replied cheekily, “Do you want me to let him through as well?”
These radio messages have sparked concerns about a growing strain in Hamilton’s relationship with the Ferrari team, particularly with his race engineer Riccardo Adami. According to Schumacher, such interactions risk damaging team harmony, a sentiment that may be backed by Hamilton’s own admission that he told team principal Fred Vasseur to “calm down” when confronted about the messages post-race.
Despite these challenges, it’s important to remember that transitions in Formula 1 often require time. Hamilton’s track record as a champion cannot be dismissed, and his presence at Ferrari was always expected to be a longer-term project rather than an instant solution. However, with Ferrari failing to make clear progress and Hamilton visibly frustrated, questions are beginning to swirl about whether the partnership can fulfill its lofty expectations.
For now, Hamilton and Ferrari must work to resolve their on-track issues and, crucially, improve internal communication if they are to salvage the season and lay the groundwork for future success.
