Lewis Hamilton is facing the challenges of adapting to life at Ferrari with a steady resolve, undeterred by the scrutiny of his debut season. The seven-time Formula One champion, who joined the Scuderia at the start of this season, has emphasized that the transition is a process of evolution rather than immediate results. As he approaches the fifth round of the 2025 season in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton is hopeful that both he and Ferrari will continue to make progress toward closing the gap to the dominant McLaren team.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was always going to be closely watched, given his legendary status and the team’s long-standing success in F1. The Briton has been managing the heavy expectations since before the season started, knowing the complexities involved in adjusting to a new car, new team, and different methodologies after over a decade of dominance with Mercedes. The first few rounds of the season have been a learning curve, with Ferrari’s performance also lagging behind, adding another layer of difficulty for Hamilton as he familiarizes himself with the new machinery.
Despite these challenges, Hamilton remains optimistic. He acknowledged the weight of Ferrari’s rich history, calling it “the greatest team in Formula One history,” and noted that the transition would take time. “You can’t work with a team and change things overnight,” he said, indicating that both he and Ferrari are in a learning phase. This approach has helped him remain grounded despite external pressures.
The relationship between Hamilton and Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, has been key to managing expectations. Vasseur, speaking after the Bahrain Grand Prix, noted that Hamilton’s two decades of F1 experience provide invaluable insight to the team. “Lewis is coming with his own experience with 20 years of F1 with different teams,” Vasseur said, “It’s always good to have someone join the team with this kind of experience and vision, to help us to improve.”
Hamilton’s adaptation also involves adjusting his driving style to fit the distinct characteristics of Ferrari’s car, which differs from the Mercedes he has been accustomed to. Although his performance in Bahrain was far from spectacular, he was encouraged by his improvement during the second stint, achieving his best finish of the season so far with a fifth-place result. He remains cautiously optimistic about his progress, describing the process as a “rollercoaster.” “It’s like we’re riding a rollercoaster together, up and down,” Hamilton reflected, adding that while it will take time, he is confident Ferrari will reach their goals.
With McLaren’s Lando Norris leading the championship and Ferrari currently further behind, the title fight seems a distant dream for Hamilton. As of now, he sits seventh in the standings, 52 points adrift of Norris, but Ferrari maintains a positive outlook. Vasseur remains hopeful that the team can bridge the gap to McLaren and fight for wins, especially after successfully developing their car over the past two seasons. For Hamilton, even a single victory this season would carry significant meaning.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix presents an opportunity for Ferrari to show their progress, especially after bringing a new floor upgrade to Bahrain. This upgrade aimed to address issues with the car’s narrow operating window and its performance in high-speed corners. In the opening practice session in Jeddah, the McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third and Hamilton in eighth. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari has indeed made a meaningful step forward and whether Hamilton’s optimism will translate into competitive results.
