Ferrari Defends Hamilton, Admits Car Performance the Real Issue
Ferrari has come out in full support of Lewis Hamilton following recent criticism surrounding his performances since joining the team. Amid growing speculation about whether the seven-time world champion is past his prime, Ferrari has firmly shut down those doubts, stating that the team’s current struggles stem not from Hamilton, but from the car itself.
Hamilton, who made a high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, has yet to achieve the kind of success fans hoped for in red. Despite his vast experience and unmatched record in the sport, Hamilton has found himself finishing outside podium places in multiple races, prompting fans and critics alike to question whether the British driver can still compete at the top level.
However, Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur addressed the situation directly after the latest Grand Prix, where both Ferrari drivers finished well off the front runners. In his statement, Vasseur emphasized that Hamilton’s driving remains at an elite level and that the real limitations lie within the SF-25—the car Ferrari brought into the 2025 season.
> “There’s no doubt about Lewis’s commitment, skill, or feedback. The issues we are seeing are not due to him, but due to our car’s development direction and performance ceiling,” Vasseur stated.
Ferrari engineers have acknowledged that the car suffers from aerodynamic inconsistencies, particularly in high-speed corners, along with tire degradation issues that have made it difficult to maintain pace over race distances. While Hamilton has worked hard with the technical team to address these problems, the progress has been slower than anticipated.
The Italian team is now under pressure to deliver upgrades before the summer break, especially as rivals like McLaren and Mercedes continue to find performance gains. Ferrari fans had expected a major step forward with Hamilton’s arrival, hoping he would bring a winning edge to Maranello. While his leadership and experience have proven invaluable internally, it’s clear that even a driver of Hamilton’s caliber can only do so much with a subpar car.
In conclusion, Ferrari has reiterated its trust in Hamilton and made it clear that the focus should be on improving the machinery—not questioning the driver. With half the season still to go, the Scuderia hopes to turn things around and give Hamilton a car capable of fighting where he belongs—at the front.
