Ferrari now have one big ‘doubt’ about their imminent upgrades that Lewis Hamilton is… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season has not gone to plan. After 10 races, the seven-time World Champion has yet to score a single podium finish—a staggering statistic that marks the worst start to a season in his 19-year F1 career. This dismal run is a sharp contrast to expectations when the British driver made the headline-grabbing switch from Mercedes, hoping to reinvigorate his career and help restore Ferrari to title contention. Instead, the iconic Italian team has found itself grappling with performance inconsistencies, and now, even their faith in imminent car upgrades appears to be wavering.
Hamilton’s previous worst starts came in 2009 with McLaren and in 2024 with Mercedes, but even during those challenging seasons, he managed at least one podium finish within the opening 10 rounds. In 2025, however, the struggle has deepened. Not only has Hamilton been unable to challenge for wins, but he has also been outpaced by his younger teammate, Charles Leclerc, on multiple occasions. Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness, particularly on Sundays, has left the team demoralised—and Hamilton visibly frustrated.
At the heart of the issue is Ferrari’s SF-25 car, which continues to be plagued by balance problems, inconsistent tyre behaviour, and a narrow performance window. While Ferrari started the season with optimism, believing that the new car concept had eliminated some of the fundamental flaws of previous years, the reality has been different. The performance gap to Red Bull and McLaren remains significant, especially in race trim, and Ferrari’s once-promising start has been derailed by missed opportunities and a recent run of poor form.
Now, attention within the team has turned to a set of major upgrades originally slated to arrive before the summer break. These upgrades were expected to help Hamilton and Leclerc mount a stronger challenge in the second half of the season. However, reports out of Maranello suggest a creeping sense of doubt is growing internally. Ferrari engineers are reportedly concerned that the development direction they’ve taken may not yield the gains initially projected. Wind tunnel data, which previously indicated a strong step forward, is now said to be producing mixed signals when compared with on-track performance correlation.
This uncertainty is deeply troubling for Hamilton, who has publicly and privately urged the team to be aggressive in their development strategy. The Briton, known for his meticulous feedback and development insights, has been working closely with Ferrari’s technical staff to shape the direction of upgrades. He remains hopeful that the incoming package can turn their season around, but sources indicate that even he has become concerned by the lack of tangible progress and the team’s hesitation.
Hamilton’s desperation for a competitive car is understandable. At 40 years of age, time is no longer on his side. When he joined Ferrari, the goal was clear: win an eighth World Championship and cement his legacy with the sport’s most historic team. So far, that dream has looked increasingly distant. If the upcoming upgrades fail to deliver, 2025 may end up being a write-off, and questions about the decision to leave Mercedes could begin to grow louder.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has maintained a calm public stance, insisting that the team is “working tirelessly” to bring performance to the car and that they “trust the development path.” However, insiders suggest there is increasing pressure from within Ferrari’s upper management, including chairman John Elkann, who is reportedly keeping a close eye on progress.
With the summer break fast approaching, the next two races will be critical. If Ferrari can begin to show signs of genuine improvement, there may still be hope for a turnaround. But if Hamilton finishes the first half of the season without a podium, the noise around Ferrari’s stagnation—and his winless drought—will only intensify.
