Charles Leclerc is again on the rostrum, this time on the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, and turns into the one non-McLaren driver to get a number of podiums over the triple-header in Imola, Monaco and Spain. Ferrari lastly climbs again to second place within the Constructors’ Championship, the automobile exhibits some timid indicators of awakening, and the followers are usually not as bitter as Inter’s supporters after the beating in Munich.
However all of the sudden the “Lewis Hamilton case” explodes. The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion, employed by Maranello to revive the group and supply path for the years forward, is popping out to be a poor copy of what President John Elkann and the opposite executives had anticipated. We aren’t those saying it, Lewis Hamilton himself did so after the Barcelona race, through which he completed sixth with out ever being in rivalry for the rostrum regardless of ranging from fourth place, succumbing to unhappiness in entrance of Sky UK’s microphones. His precise phrases have been the next: “It was a nasty day, it was horrible, I don’t know what to say, it’s most likely simply my fault.” In brief, a give up.
Let’s be clear: Lewis Hamilton is an efficient individual in addition to an important champion. He accepted Ferrari’s problem not for advertising and marketing causes, as some want to imagine, however as a result of he was satisfied he nonetheless had nice playing cards to play, positive he might develop into a key participant once more, assured he might win. As a substitute, except for the spark in the course of the Dash race in China, he has solely encountered disappointment.
And relatively than fading, this disappointment continues, dragging him right into a vicious cycle from which it appears he can’t escape.
Compared to Charles Leclerc, he has constantly misplaced out when it comes to each pace and technique. Sometimes, misunderstandings with the Ferrari pit wall have surfaced—despite the fact that it’s staffed by top-tier professionals, beginning with engineer Riccardo Adami, who manages his automobile. However basically, Lewis Hamilton isn’t comfy with the SF-25 single-seater. The Briton can’t drive it the way in which he desires, in contrast to Charles Leclerc, who at all times manages to adapt to the Ferrari’s limitations, maybe as a result of he’s used to compensating for years of shortcomings and struggling.
And what about Ferrari? Within the first 9 races of the 2025 Formulation 1 championship, it has not been aggressive, and the standard guarantees about upcoming aerodynamic upgrades that can (perhaps) enhance efficiency have resurfaced. This rhetoric does nothing to assist Lewis Hamilton’s frustration, his straightforwardness, or his want for clear solutions. His phrases convey concern and even self-doubt, as a result of the comparability with Charles Leclerc’s lap occasions is relentless, elevating the query of whether or not it’s even doable for the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion to compete on equal phrases along with his Maranello teammate.
We’re much less uncertain than Lewis Hamilton, maybe as a result of we take pleasure in distance. In our view, when Ferrari provides him a aggressive automobile, the British driver will be capable of strike again, scare his rivals, and battle the place he deserves.
It might be true that the SF-25 doesn’t swimsuit his driving model, however it’s equally true that nice champions, particularly these of a sure age, are inclined to carry out solely after they have a automobile able to profitable. Examples abound.
What issues is that Ferrari should act quick to “save Non-public Lewis,” as a result of he’s an funding that can’t and should not fail, even when, on the time of his transfer from Mercedes to Maranello, some throughout the group have been already skeptical. Lewis Hamilton must recuperate his morale, spirit, and enthusiasm, assuming he has even managed to know (and now we have no data on this) the Ferrari mindset, the Italian mind-set, and the uniquely Maranello logic, which is commonly elusive and convoluted, particularly for an Englishman.
Surrounded by consideration and typically diverted by the style world, are we positive Lewis Hamilton has understood Ferrari and that Ferrari has understood him? That’s the actual situation. Alongside one essential query: are we sure that the British driver, after this troubled begin, is actually able to face 2026—a season that, as of now and this is applicable to everybody, to be honest, gives no ensures?
We’ve got limitless respect for Lewis Hamilton; few drivers match his mental depth and analytical expertise. He should discover inside himself the vitality to endure these difficulties. However Ferrari should additionally do its half technically, by abandoning the flawed selections that led to this tough begin. In the event that they enhance collectively, we’ll see the actual Lewis Hamilton once more. If not, Ferrari will face one more rebuild, and Lewis Hamilton shall be left with the remorse of getting thrown away what ought to have been the triumphant finale to a rare profession. However there’s nonetheless time—earlier than anybody, together with us, attracts hasty conclusions.