Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing challenges with Ferrari in early 2025 have drawn attention from former Mercedes strategist James Vowles, who spent ten years working closely with Hamilton during his six World Championship wins. As Hamilton navigates his transition to Ferrari, Vowles highlights specific missing elements critical to the driver’s performance, while suggesting progress is on the horizon in this Lewis Hamilton Ferrari struggle analysis.
Assessing Hamilton’s Difficult Adaptation to Ferrari
Since joining Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has faced a difficult start, despite securing the team’s only victory through his win in the China Sprint. Following 10 rounds of competition, Hamilton trails his teammate Charles Leclerc by one position and 25 points in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s performance upgrades, including a newly introduced floor at the Austrian Grand Prix and further enhancements planned for the British Grand Prix, aim to improve the SF-25’s competitiveness.
Vowles, who served as Mercedes’ strategy chief between 2013 and 2023, provided insight into Hamilton’s situation as he compares the adaptation process Hamilton is experiencing to that of Carlos Sainz, whose departure from Ferrari paved the way for Hamilton’s move. Sainz has since signed a multi-year contract with Williams.
“Lewis has some elements he needs from a car to feel strength from it, and then it’s a confidence build from him that he then is able to generate from then onwards,”
Vowles said, describing how Hamilton’s connection to the car influences his performance.
“And I can see it in what’s going on. He hasn’t quite got that yet.”
Comparing Head-to-Head Performance and Adaptation Challenges
Although Hamilton has not consistently matched Leclerc’s form, Vowles remains optimistic about Hamilton’s potential to close the gap. He points to examples like the Miami Grand Prix, where Hamilton displayed strong race pace by pressuring Leclerc ahead of him. Vowles emphasizes that this consistency is yet to be established but underscores the learning curve involved in adjusting to the new Ferrari car’s characteristics.
“It’s just not consistently there, weekend on weekend, but when you’re in this, and you can see it with Carlos, you can see with anyone that’s adapting to these cars and changing, there’s so much to keep on top of and learn as a result of it. It’s all possible. It’s all adaption.”
Vowles’ remarks highlight the technical and psychological adjustments required for a driver of Hamilton’s calibre to fully translate his skill within Ferrari’s evolving SF-25 platform.
The Road Ahead for Hamilton at Ferrari
Hamilton’s 2025 campaign reflects the challenges endemic to switching teams in Formula 1, especially moving from Mercedes’ environment, where he enjoyed sustained success, to Ferrari, which is still evolving its car development. The arrival of technical upgrades offers promise for Hamilton to find the missing pieces needed to build confidence and extract stronger performance consistently.
As Ferrari and Hamilton continue their partnership through the remainder of the season, further updates to the SF-25 vehicle and Hamilton’s adjustment to its unique demands could determine whether he can transform early struggles into competitive success alongside Charles Leclerc.
