Formula 1 record winner Lewis Hamilton wanted to attack again in Ferrari. But the balance is lousy and interview statements raise questions.
It was the sensation change to the 2025 Formula 1 season: Lewis Hamilton, the record winner, goes to Ferrari for the first time at Mercedes after eleven years. Both parties hoped for a success story. Hamilton had recently run behind Red Bull Pilot Max Verstappen in the Mercedes without a chance. And Ferrari has been waiting for the next title since 2007.
In the meantime, 14 out of 24 Grands Prix have driven, Formula 1 takes four weeks of summer break. And the mood at Hamilton and Ferrari is at the low point. The 40-year-old ended the Grand Prix of Hungary on Sunday (03.08.2025) as twelfth outside of the points, while his 13-year team-mate Charles Leclerc just missed the podium.
Hamilton: “I’m useless”
“It’s always up to me. I’m useless” – With these words, Hamilton had already lit up the previous day. The Brit had missed the final round in qualifying on Hungaroring. Afterwards he could only watch Leclerc surprisingly put on the best time in Q3 in Q3. “The team is not the problem, the other car is in pole. The team probably has to change the driver“, said Hamilton.
Hard statements, interpreted by some as a serious consideration, to throw in at Ferrari. The course of the race on Sunday, when Hamilton Festhing with its one-stop strategy in traffic and ultimately did not make a single place, did not make a mood improvement.
Again thoughtful words
“I still love racing”, “ The 40-year-old then said at “Sky Sports UK”, but quietly and indistinct: “If you have a feeling, you just have a feeling.” It happens “A lot in the background that is not great” – Words with room for interpretation.
Ferrari team boss Vasseur, however, does not seem to fear that Hamilton will give up. “He will come back, fight again and continue to drive for us”, he said at “Sky”. He spoke to Hamilton several times: “He is very demanding towards me, the team and most of the person opposite himself. I understand the frustration.”
Sobering interim balance
Vasseur pointed out that Hamilton had narrowly missed the leap into the final round in qualifying. There Ferrari and Leclerc benefited from a rain shower, a change in the weather and new wind conditions. “If he had been in Q3, he could have been in front with Charles”he said.
Vasseur had led his former pupil Hamilton to Ferrari, gave him a contract until the end of 2026. But the interim balance is sobering. Three fourth places are the best results at the big prices so far, on the podium you could only see Hamilton during two sprint races.
Historically badly there is historically bad, especially in the Ferrari duel with Leclerc. With the qualifying, it is 5: 9 behind, even 3:11 in the race. In his 19 Formula 1 season, Hamilton has never cut it so badly compared to a teammate.
The search for the driving experience
Hamilton won his first World Cup title in the McLaren, six more titles in the Mercedes. Now he is desperately looking for the correct coordination in Ferrari. “It just doesn’t feel stable overall and is extremely unbalanced”, said Hamilton in Hungary.
“A real fight” were at the “Scuderia” for the first few months. So there will be little time for relaxation even during the summer break.