Former Ferrari driver Ivan Capelli has suggested that Lewis Hamilton has been unsettled since joining Ferrari, highlighting the British driver’s difficulty in adjusting to the team. Hamilton’s challenges stem from the lack of feedback and support he experienced at Ferrari, which contrasts sharply with the system he was used to at Mercedes.
Hamilton left Mercedes after a 12-year stint, having joined the Silver Arrows from McLaren in 2013. His switch to Ferrari in 2025 presented a significant adjustment, given how closely the Mercedes team environment revolved around him. Capelli points out that Hamilton’s departure from such a familiar setup contributed to his difficulties in settling into the Italian squad.
Reflecting on Hamilton’s transition, Capelli emphasized that the former world champion’s influence at Mercedes was so substantial that he even shaped the team’s colors. This level of involvement did not carry over to Ferrari, where the driver’s input was reportedly overlooked at times, causing frustration and destabilization.
“Lewis was used to a team, Mercedes, that always worked for him. Just think, he managed to change Mercedes’ colors. That makes you realize how much of an influence he had there. In a different system, that of Ferrari, there could have been difficulties,” said Capelli [via fanpage.it].
“He might have asked for changes that were never made, he asked for things without getting any feedback, and these things destabilize you. And you drag them from race to race, and that wears you down,” he added.
Hamilton faced further complications with the underperforming SF-25 during the 2025 season, which struggled to compete effectively on race weekends. Communication challenges over the team radio also added to the sense of disconnection between Hamilton and his Ferrari engineers and crew.
Looking ahead, Hamilton’s hopes rely heavily on Ferrari delivering a more competitive car for the 2026 season. With a better vehicle, the experienced driver aims to reassess both his role and the performance of the team around him as Formula 1 enters a new regulatory era.
Insights on Hamilton’s Experience of Isolation Within Ferrari
Ivan Capelli has also remarked on Hamilton’s apparent feelings of loneliness while at Ferrari. Observing Hamilton during the 2025 racing season, Capelli noticed the driver’s efforts to integrate more fully into the team despite feeling isolated.
When asked why he believed Hamilton felt alone, Capelli explained that even moments of interaction, such as high-fiving mechanics or collecting his car after a practice accident, seemed insufficient to overcome this sense of detachment.
“Because even in life in the garage, in the pits, with the team, it seemed to me that beyond certain situations, either intentional or forced by television coverage, where you see him arriving and high-fiving the mechanics, or, for example, the last race where he picked up the car after the free practice accident, he gave me the feeling of being alone.”
“His requests seemed more like a way of wanting to be more integrated with the team, more involved,” he added.
Capelli also observed that Hamilton appeared to lack enjoyment or satisfaction throughout the season, with his sporadic strong performances failing to translate into a consistent run of results. The veteran driver’s overall 2025 campaign seemed marked more by personal struggle than fulfillment.
Hamilton’s difficult adaptation to Ferrari’s environment, alongside the challenges of the car’s performance, has made his debut season with the Italian outfit a testing period. The ongoing effort to improve team dynamics and technical results will be critical for both Hamilton and Ferrari as they prepare for the upcoming F1 season.
