Lewis Hamilton needs a ‘brain transplant’ with Ferrari ‘bosses not… read more
Lewis Hamilton has opened up about his ongoing difficulties adapting to life at Ferrari, revealing that both he and the team’s management are dissatisfied with his performances so far. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion made headlines with his candid admission that he would need a “brain transplant” to properly understand and drive the Ferrari SF-25, underscoring how alien the car still feels to him.
Since making the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton has found it difficult to match the performance of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. In the opening rounds of the 2025 season, Hamilton has yet to finish a grand prix ahead of Leclerc, and his qualifying pace has become a renewed concern. The most recent example came during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where although Hamilton made it to Q3, he still finished over half a second slower than Leclerc.
Speaking after the session, Hamilton was blunt about the challenges he’s facing. When asked what he needed to improve his performance and feel more comfortable in the SF-25, he responded, “A brain transplant.” It was a stark admission from a driver known for his mental strength and resilience.
Hamilton acknowledged that the expectations at Ferrari are high and that the pressure is growing both internally and externally. “I know the fans aren’t happy. I’m sure the team are not happy. I know the bosses are not happy. And I’m not happy with my results,” he said. Despite these concerns, Hamilton remains determined to push through this rough patch.
Analyzing his qualifying laps, Hamilton noted specific areas where he was losing significant time. “I’m losing two-tenths just in the last sector, three tenths in the first sector, and a tenth in the middle sector,” he said. “It’s just not good enough.” He admitted that, despite his efforts, extracting maximum performance from the car is proving to be incredibly difficult.
Despite the struggles, Hamilton is still only seven points behind Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship, which suggests that he has managed to limit the damage so far. However, the lack of a strong breakthrough moment—especially in qualifying—has drawn comparisons to the final phase of his Mercedes stint, where he also appeared visibly frustrated after repeated defeats to teammate George Russell.
Hamilton emphasized that he is continuing to put in the work, even though progress is coming slowly. “All I can do is try to believe in myself, stay positive, and keep working at it,” he said. “And that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Hamilton will start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from P7, sharing the fourth row with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda. While the championship is still in its early stages, both Hamilton and Ferrari will be hoping that he can soon unlock the performance needed to challenge at the front and justify the excitement surrou
nding his move.
