Why Lewis Hamilton Is Struggling in His First Ferrari Season
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated switch to Ferrari is off to a rocky start. Just five races into the 2025 Formula 1 season, the seven-time world champion is finding it tough to adapt—highlighted by a disappointing P7 finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, over 30 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Despite the SF-25 showing podium potential, Hamilton has struggled to unlock its pace. He was outqualified by Leclerc and even by the driver he replaced—now racing for Williams. After the race, Hamilton admitted he “didn’t feel comfortable for even one second,” leaving fans and analysts puzzled.
The British driver has been candid about the learning curve. He previously described the challenge as needing a “brain transplant” and predicted 2025 would be a “painful” year. He narrowly made it into Q3 in Jeddah by just seven-thousandths of a second, showing just how steep the adaptation process has been.
Interestingly, Hamilton has already claimed a sprint race win in China this season, proving he can still deliver under the right conditions. However, consistency in the full-length Grands Prix has eluded him.
Reports suggest he’s still adjusting to Ferrari’s unique engine braking, unfamiliar brake suppliers, and the overall feel of the car—very different from his former Mercedes machines. Whether Hamilton can fully adapt before the current ground effect car era ends remains to be seen. One thing’s certain: the spotlight will remain firmly on him until he does.