Lewis Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari in the 2025 F1 season hasn’t started as planned, facing challenges against teammate Charles Leclerc.
- Despite a promising sprint victory in China, Hamilton’s results have been underwhelming, not finishing above seventh in the first three races.
- Technical issues have plagued Hamilton’s Ferrari, leading to disqualifications and performance setbacks compared to Leclerc.
- Hamilton remains optimistic as Ferrari prepares for key upgrades at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
- The team is hopeful to close the gap with rivals after learning from early-season struggles.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, finds himself in unfamiliar territory with Ferrari. After leaving Mercedes over the winter, his entry into Ferrari hasn’t been smooth sailing. Despite clinching a sprint race win in China, Hamilton’s start has been marked by finishes no better than seventh in the initial three races.
The buzz around Hamilton’s performance hasn’t just been about placements. His claim of a “deficit” in his car compared to teammate Charles Leclerc has opened conversations about internal team dynamics. In Shanghai, Hamilton was disqualified due to excessive skid-block wear, while Leclerc faced exclusion for an underweight car. These challenges underscore issues with the SF-25’s ride height, as noted by Hamilton at Suzuka, where he felt only his side of the garage experienced these troubles.
As Ferrari gears up for the Bahrain Grand Prix, there is palpable anticipation for their first upgrade of the season. Hamilton will lead the assessment of a new floor, hoping it will address some of the current performance gaps. The team knows that while this upgrade might not bridge the entire gap to leaders like McLaren, it is a step toward improvement.
Hamilton shared his insights on the situation during a media interaction, highlighting Leclerc’s consistent setups with Ferrari’s early-season configurations, contrasting with his varied approaches. “I’m learning all the time from watching Charles work with the team and how he sets up the car,” Hamilton noted, emphasizing the normalcy of having different setups across various tracks.
Ferrari’s start to the 2025 season has been less than ideal. Trailing McLaren by 76 points after three races, the team that last secured a Constructor’s title in 2024 now finds itself fighting to regain footing. Hamilton, with his roots in McLaren, acknowledges the tough road ahead but maintains hope for a “step forward” at Bahrain, signaling optimism amidst the early challenges.
Hamilton and Ferrari aim for progress and improved results as the season unfolds.
