Ferrari has acknowledged that it miscalculated how smoothly Lewis Hamilton would adjust to the team after his move from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Team principalFred Vasseur admitted that Hamilton’s transition has been more difficult than anticipated, especially when contrasted with Carlos Sainz’s apparently quicker integration into Ferrari’s environment.
Hamilton, who announced his switch to Ferrari prior to the 2024 season and is set to make his debut with the team at an age when many drivers contemplate retirement, entered a vastly different culture. This includes adapting to a new engine supplier, departing from the familiarity of Mercedes engines that he had used for nearly two decades.
Analyzing Hamilton’s Adaptation Compared to Sainz’s Experience
Hamilton’s move marks only the second time in his Formula 1 career that he has changed teams, having spent 18 years split between McLaren and Mercedes. In contrast, Carlos Sainz has navigated a more varied career path, representing Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari before moving to Williams in 2025 after Hamilton took his seat.
Fred Vasseur reflected on this disparity, saying,
“Looking back, I have to admit that we, by which I mean Lewis and I, underestimated the change to a different environment,”
highlighting that the transition to Ferrari was a bigger shift than Hamilton expected.
He added,
“When Lewis arrived at Ferrari, we naively thought that he would have everything under control. He is not like Carlos Sainz, who changes teams every few years and is familiar with the process.”
According to Vasseur, Hamilton required four to five races to start contending effectively with the new setup, adding,
Image of: Carlos Sainz
“Since the Canadian Grand Prix, he has actually been on track.”
Current Performance Gap Between Hamilton and Leclerc
Up to the summer break in 2025, Hamilton trails his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by 42 championship points, having yet to secure a podium finish. Leclerc, by contrast, has claimed five podiums this season, underscoring a difficult beginning for Hamilton at Ferrari.
Hamilton’s struggles were highlighted during the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the summer intermission, where he failed to advance beyond Q2 while Leclerc captured pole position. Following this event, Hamilton publicly suggested a change in driver lineup and described himself as useless, echoing frustrations from his final Mercedes season.
He also alluded to internal issues at Ferrari, commenting on a background that was not great. Vasseur responded by encouraging patience and composure, emphasizing that Hamilton’s self-criticism often intensifies reactions beyond reality. He explained that in qualifying Hamilton was only a fraction of a second behind Leclerc, adding perspective to the performance gap.
Vasseur further noted,
“He demands a lot. From others, but also from himself. I can live with that. Nico Hülkenberg was the same when he drove for me in Formula 3. He demanded an awful lot from the team. But he was also there every morning at 6.30 a.m.”
Looking Ahead to Hamilton’s Future at Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s multi-year contract with Ferrari is widely believed to extend through the end of the 2026 season, a pivotal year with significant regulatory changes set to reshape Formula 1. These transformations could offer Hamilton an important chance to contend fiercely for an eighth World Championship title.
While Hamilton’s start at Ferrari has faced hurdles, the team remains focused on supporting his integration, with Vasseur emphasizing the importance of stability and measured expectations. The ongoing season will reveal whether Hamilton can overcome the current difficulties and challenge the established frontrunners effectively.
