It’s partly the automobile, however not solely that
Lewis Hamilton’s season with Ferrari is—plainly—falling properly in need of expectations. The seven-time world champion, welcomed with enthusiasm and hope by the followers, has thus far shone solely within the Dash race in China, which he received deservedly. However that has really been his solely standout second: his sixth-place end in Canada, one in every of his favourite tracks, additionally marked a damaging document for the Briton, who had by no means earlier than began a season with out a podium within the first 10 GPs of the 12 months.
After all, a part of the accountability for these outcomes lies with the SF-25, which has confirmed to be removed from the extent of competitiveness hoped for throughout the pre-season winter months. However Lewis Hamilton is clearly struggling, ends in hand, compared along with his teammate Charles Leclerc. It’s actually not simple for a brand new driver to match the extent of somebody who has been with the staff longer, however Hamilton’s efficiency in 2025 is on par with what he confirmed at Mercedes in opposition to George Russell, again when he was the veteran of the staff.
Lewis Hamilton’s state of affairs after 10 GPs
Because the introduction of the brand new rules in 2022, Lewis Hamilton has, after 10 GPs (and likewise by season’s finish), nearly all the time scored fewer factors than his teammate. The one exception was 2023, a season during which George Russell made a number of errors and was additionally tormented by technical points. Aside from that 12 months, after 10 races the British driver has all the time been trailing his storage mate by double digits and has by no means positioned greater than sixth within the standings.
Worsening qualifying type
The impression is that—whatever the competitiveness of the automobiles he’s pushed—Lewis Hamilton has by no means actually tailored to this new technical regulation in comparison with earlier seasons. Furthermore, there’s a chance that, as time goes on, the British champion is dropping among the pace that after outlined him over a single lap. The truth is, season after season, his head-to-head performances in qualifying have steadily declined, taking away what was lengthy one in every of his key strengths.
It must also be famous that—maybe due to Charles Leclerc’s efficiency—this season is popping out worse than common for #44. By no means earlier than after 10 races had the Briton fallen thus far behind his teammate. Naturally, these figures alone don’t inform the entire story, however a damaging development in Hamilton’s outcomes is plain. If each he and Leclerc had been to keep up this tempo all through the season, the hole between them might attain round 60 factors by the tip—an abyss.
Maybe Lewis Hamilton’s intention to take cost of the staff and reshape its inside dynamics forward of 2026 and the arrival of the brand new technical rules can be interpreted on this gentle. That change will probably symbolize the ultimate turning level within the legendary Briton’s profession to make a final push for an eighth world championship.