Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that while Ferrari has made some progress this season, the improvements have not translated into stronger performances or better race results. The British driver also highlighted challenges related to the car’s drivability, which continue to affect his ability to compete effectively.
Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari coincided with the team introducing what he describes as a “snappy” car, yet this vehicle has shown inconsistency during the first half of the season and remains less competitive compared to rivals. Hamilton’s highest finish has only been fourth place in races, apart from a notable performance in the Sprint event in China. The ongoing difficulties were evident again at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
During the second free practice session at the Azerbaijan GP, Ferrari appeared strong as Hamilton led the timesheets. However, this momentum did not carry into qualifying, where Hamilton was eliminated early in Q2. His teammate Charles Leclerc started the race from tenth place after crashing on his final qualifying lap, compounding Ferrari’s struggle to secure front-row positions.
Challenges with the SF-25’s Handling and Hamilton’s Driving Style
Hamilton discussed the car’s characteristics and how they impact his driving approach. Although he believes he could push the car more aggressively, he lacks confidence particularly in the braking phase. The car’s responsiveness under braking has prevented him from attacking as decisively as he would prefer.
“I think there’s still some improvements to make in terms of how aggressive I can be,” Hamilton said (via Motorsport Week). “The car has been quite snappy, so still not 100% confident under braking when I’m attacking on the brakes.”
Despite some technical strides with the SF-25, Hamilton pointed out that these gains are not yet showing visibly in race outcomes. He reflected on the recent events where improvements seemed inconsistent depending on the setup and race conditions.
“In the last race, I was, but in this race, didn’t feel it so much with the setup that we ended up having. It’s kind of crazy, because we’ve been progressing yet we’ve not had results, really in the last few races. But there’s not like no progress so I think we’re able to do a good weekend and a good result.”
Ferrari’s Shift in Focus Toward the 2026 Car and Optimizing the Current Model
As Formula 1 looks ahead to significant regulatory changes slated for the 2026 season, Ferrari has prioritized development efforts on next year’s car, anticipating a major challenge with new aerodynamic and engine rules. Hamilton revealed that no further upgrades are expected for the current SF-25 model this year, meaning the team must maximize performance through better setup and execution.
“I mean, I would give anything for an upgrade, but obviously we don’t have that, we have to focus on next year’s car, so we just have to do better in optimising and execution,” he said (via PlanetF1).
Recently, Ferrari’s position in the Constructors’ Championship has weakened as Mercedes moved up in the standings, boosted by George Russell’s podium finish in Baku. Currently sitting third, Ferrari faces additional pressure as Red Bull is poised to challenge their ranking if performance issues remain unresolved.
The continuing difficulties with the SF-25 and the team’s redirected priorities highlight the early challenges Ferrari must overcome to remain competitive. Hamilton’s cautious optimism suggests that while improvements are underway, substantial progress is necessary to reclaim Ferrari’s dominance on the track.
