Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have faced challenges with Ferrari’s strategic decisions during the 2025 Formula 1 season, a problem attributed to pressure from external forces rather than technological shortcomings. According to Neil Martin, Ferrari’s former head of strategy, the tools available to the team for race decision making are highly advanced, but the intense pressure surrounding Ferrari leads to unclear and flawed calls under stress.
Ferrari’s strategy struggles have long been linked to the overwhelming expectations placed on the team, especially given their absence from World Championship victories since 2008. These external pressures influence how decisions are made on race weekends, affecting outcomes for drivers such as Hamilton and Leclerc, who both seek stronger results in the current season.
New Support Emerges for Hamilton Following Ferrari’s Acknowledgement of Pressure
Ferrari’s reputation for questionable strategy decisions intensified during Charles Leclerc’s 2022 title challenge, which faltered partly due to several questionable calls by the team. Hamilton’s 2025 season has included moments of frustration with Ferrari’s race strategy, highlighted by tense team radio exchanges with race engineer Riccardo Adami. The seven-time World Champion disclosed at the Belgian Grand Prix that he has presented detailed documents to the team outlining his proposals to improve Ferrari’s approach after a challenging start to the season.
Hamilton’s submissions cover not only technical adjustments to the car but also recommend reforms in Ferrari’s internal working methods, communication across departments based in Maranello, and the execution of strategies during race weekends. His commitment reflects a broader determination to rebuild momentum after previous setbacks in his Ferrari tenure.
Comparing Hamilton and Leclerc’s Performance Within Ferrari in 2025
As teammates, Hamilton and Leclerc’s performances have been closely monitored, with qualifying and race statistics providing insight into their competitive standing against each other. Hamilton has highlighted his motivation to surpass experienced champions like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who raced for Ferrari without securing a title, fueling his drive to succeed where others have struggled.
Martin, who joined Ferrari in 2011 after Red Bull and left in 2015, emphasized that Ferrari’s strategic difficulties cannot be blamed on its technology alone. He noted,
“I can confirm that when I left, their strategy tools were state of the art. I think what happens is just having the tools is not good enough.”
Effective communication and confident engineering decisions are critical but currently undermined by external pressures.
[That’s] probably the nice way to phrase it.
—Neil Martin, Former Ferrari Head of Strategy
Hamilton’s Reflections on Pressure During the 2025 Season at Ferrari
During the Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton openly discussed how the pressure of driving for Ferrari has influenced his enjoyment of the sport this year. He called for both himself and the team to rediscover enjoyment and motivation for the remainder of the season. Speaking to Thomas Maher of PlanetF1.com at Monza, Hamilton said he remains determined but acknowledged the early part of the year has been difficult.
He reflected on the numerous challenges, including managing the workload, adapting to new sponsors, handling extensive media commitments, and integrating within the large Ferrari organisation, all of which have added to the strain. Hamilton stressed the importance of focusing on the passion that brought him to the sport, stating that losing sight of enjoyment diminishes the purpose of competing.
So now it’s about moving those things aside and just getting back to focusing on the pure love of what we do.
—Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Driver
Hamilton’s remarks underscore his desire to shift the team’s mindset away from external pressures and distractions and towards a shared appreciation of racing, aiming to boost performance and morale during the upcoming races in the 2025 season.
Context and Challenges Faced by Ferrari’s Race Strategy Team
Neil Martin also highlighted that strategic errors at Ferrari are not a result of outdated technology but stem from the intense, often overwhelming pressure that comes from representing one of the sport’s most revered brands. This pressure can lead to decision-making that lacks clarity and confidence under high-stakes situations.
Martin’s tenure overlapped significant moments for Ferrari, including his recruitment following the controversial 2010 Abu Dhabi finale where a strategic choice cost Fernando Alonso a title. Despite improving Ferrari’s strategy tools during his time, the underlying issues around communication and pressure remain persistent challenges.
Outlook for Ferrari and Hamilton in the Ongoing Season
As Ferrari moves forward in the 2025 championship, both Hamilton and the team face the task of managing expectations while refining their approach to race weekends. Hamilton’s engagement in proposing changes to working methods and strategy execution reflects an active role in influencing the team’s direction.
Addressing the pressure that affects decisions at Ferrari may help unlock more consistent performance and lead to better results for the drivers. Hamilton’s emphasis on rediscovering enjoyment in racing offers a path to rebuilding confidence within the team environment as they tackle the second half of the season with renewed focus.
