In a season fraught with difficulties, Lewis Hamilton‘s debut year with Ferrari has been notably challenging, as highlighted by his recent performance at the Japanese Grand Prix. Held at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, Hamilton qualified eighth, while his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, clinched fourth place on the grid. This comes after both were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix, marking a rocky start to the 2025 Formula One season.
Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve commented on Ferrari’s struggles, expressing concern over their current form. Speaking with Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve noted, “They know they are in trouble and do not know how to get better.” This sentiment captures the mounting pressure on Ferrari as competitors like Red Bull and McLaren continue to advance.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion with Mercedes before joining Ferrari, admitted discontent with his qualifying performance, stating, “Not good enough from my side,” after finishing over six tenths behind Max Verstappen, who set a record lap time of 1:26.983. The race saw Verstappen edge out McLaren’s Lando Norris, the current championship leader.
Ferrari’s season began with a modest showing in the Australian Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Leclerc finished in tenth and eighth places, respectively. A sprint victory in China remains a high point for Hamilton, although the subsequent disqualifications have marred his debut with the Scuderia.
Further complicating matters, Hamilton’s excessive skid-block wear in China may have influenced Ferrari’s decision to run a higher car setup in Japan. Post-qualifying, Hamilton remarked, “We are running higher than I would like but everyone is in the same boat. Charles did an amazing job. We went in different directions with set-up. I had a lot of understeer and just couldn’t dial it up.”
Leclerc also weighed in on the car’s setup issues, indicating, “We have got some other issues, not particularly with the ride height. I can’t go too much into detail.” Despite these setbacks, Leclerc expressed optimism about his qualifying lap, stating it gave him “a lot more confidence for the rest of qualifying.”
The struggles faced by Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari this season highlight a period of transition and adjustment. With fierce competition from Red Bull and McLaren, the pressure is mounting on Ferrari to improve their pace and performance. Villeneuve’s insights underscore the urgency for Ferrari to address their challenges swiftly if they are to remain competitive.
Looking forward, as Ferrari and Hamilton aim for better results, their focus will likely be on refining car setups and strategies to close the gap with leading teams. The Japanese Grand Prix results serve as a reminder of the scrutinizing spotlight on Hamilton’s inaugural season with Ferrari, reflecting both the promise and pitfalls of this high-profile partnership.
