Mercedes development driver Anthony Davidson has provided a frank assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s first half of the 2025 season with Ferrari, highlighting the seven-time world champion’s unexpected difficulties adapting to his new team. Hamilton has struggled to find form and confidence, entering the summer break after a particularly disappointing weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he failed to advance beyond Q2 in qualifying and scored no points, marking his worst result of the season.
Following the Hungarian GP, Hamilton publicly described himself as “useless” and suggested that Ferrari might need to consider replacing him. Davidson reflected on these developments in a column for Formule1.nl, expressing concern not only about Hamilton’s on-track performance but also his mental state.
“It pains me to have to mention the name of Lewis Hamilton here. Unbelievable, actually, that I would ever have to say this in an analysis. But we heard in Budapest what he said about himself. It’s sad when you hear a sportsman with such an enormous track record doubt himself like that. This is also a major concern for the team.”
—Anthony Davidson, Mercedes Development Driver
Davidson drew a parallel between Hamilton’s current difficulties and Valentino Rossi’s problematic transition to Ducati in 2011, pointing out that even the most accomplished athletes can face significant challenges when adapting to new environments and machinery.
“What is happening now is what many people thought was going to happen. You can perhaps compare it a bit with Valentino Rossi’s switch to Ducati (turned out to be a flop in 2011, ed.). But you can learn an important lesson from it: nothing can be taken for granted. No one is a superman, everyone is vulnerable and fragile.
Nothing lasts forever. It may be that it is so difficult for a driver to adapt to a new car. For me, Lewis has never been the same since the new regulations introduced in 2022, although I sometimes see the old Lewis back in the races. He never had that natural feeling, total control in the car again.”
—Anthony Davidson, Mercedes Development Driver
Davidson concluded by expressing hope that a reset of regulations in 2026 could bring about a resurgence in Hamilton’s performance with Ferrari.
Frederic Vasseur Responds to Hamilton’s Intense Self-Criticism Amidst Media Attention
Lewis Hamilton’s candid admission of feeling “useless” came after his inability to reach Q3 at the Hungarian GP qualifying session, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc secured pole position. After finishing twelfth in the race, compared to Leclerc’s fourth place, Hamilton revealed
“there’s a lot going on in the background that’s not great,”
fueling speculation about internal struggles and his morale.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur addressed Hamilton’s self-critical remarks, explaining the driver‘s mindset and reassuring fans and observers of his value to the team. Speaking to Crash.net, Vasseur illustrated how Hamilton’s extreme reactions to setbacks are part of his intense desire for perfection.
“Lewis is very self-critical. He is always extreme in his reactions. Sometimes he is too hard on the car, sometimes on himself. He wants to get the most out of himself and everyone in the team. You have to calm him down and explain to him that in Q2 [in Hungary], he was only a tenth of a second behind the driver [Leclerc], who later took pole position. That’s no big deal.
The message he sends out only makes things worse. Most of the time, he’s only that extreme with the press. By the time he comes into the briefing room, he’s usually calmed down again. That’s just his way.”
—Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
Vasseur’s comments emphasize the mental pressures Hamilton is facing and highlight the perfectionism that drives but also challenges the seven-time champion. Despite current obstacles, Ferrari continues to back Hamilton as they look to improve their competitiveness against key rivals such as McLaren.
Outlook for Ferrari and Hamilton in the Second Half of the 2025 F1 Season
Looking ahead, Ferrari aims to mount a stronger challenge, particularly against McLaren, as the season resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix from August 29 to 31. However, Hamilton’s difficulties in adapting to Ferrari’s SF-25 car and the current technical regulations suggest that significant improvements may be limited this year.
Hamilton’s adjustment period at Ferrari has been tougher than anticipated, with his performance leaving fans and analysts uneasy about how much further he can push the Scuderia forward amid these struggles. The coming months will be critical in determining whether he can recapture his previous form or if the 2026 regulation changes will be necessary to spark a true revival.
