“Not what I dreamed of”
First year at Ferrari: Hamilton talks about disappointment
November 20, 2025 – 11:41 amReading time: 2 minutes
His debut season at the “Scuderia” was riddled with mediocre results and mishaps. Now the Brit speaks openly about the 2025 season – and his relationship with Ferrari boss Elkann.
The move to Ferrari hasn’t gone as hoped for Lewis Hamilton. Before the race in Las Vegas, the record world champion talks about a season full of challenges – and the lessons he learned from it.
“It’s definitely not the year I ever dreamed of, but we’re learning lessons from every single weekend,” Hamilton said before the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He described his first season with the traditional racing team from Maranello as the “most challenging” of his career.
Nevertheless, Hamilton does not regret switching from Mercedes to Ferrari. “It’s been very difficult at times during the year, but I’ve surprised myself at how resilient I am,” said the Brit. He is “still in a very positive mood,” remains “firmly determined” and sees “every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.”
Ferrari is still waiting for a Grand Prix victory this year – both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were unsuccessful. Recently, Ferrari President John Elkann clearly held the drivers accountable. They should “drive more and talk less,” said Elkann.
Hamilton sees no problem with the statements. “I speak to John every week. We have a great relationship. The passion in our team is unbroken,” he explained.
Leclerc also expressed himself calmly. “We were always very honest with each other,” said the Monegasque. Elkann is “obviously a very ambitious person” and, “just like me, wants the best for Ferrari. We are doing our best to ensure that Ferrari gets back to the top.”