Lewis Hamilton Accepts Ferrari Challenge as Major Changes Loom

Lewis Hamilton has publicly acknowledged that his current season with Ferrari is falling short of expectations. The seven-time world champion started the year with optimism after a strong showing in China, capturing a sprint race victory from pole position.

However, setbacks soon followed. Notably, both Ferraris were disqualified from the Shanghai Grand Prix, a blow that knocked momentum from the team’s early progress.

Since then, Hamilton has consistently finished in the points but never truly threatened for a podium or win. His comfort with the SF-25 has been lacking, and the car’s performance has left him searching for answers.

Hamilton explained that he does not expect to be fighting for wins or the championship this year. “A lot of things need to be changed,” he said during a recent media session.

He emphasized the need for significant improvement behind the scenes and described the current period as one of adaptation and foundation-building with his new team. The veteran driver, now 40, understands the scale of the challenge at Ferrari.

He is working closely with the engineers and team management to drive updates and overhaul areas that have proven weak. Hamilton remains hopeful that changes underway now will bring better results next season.

Despite the setbacks, he is focused on helping Ferrari return to race-winning form. “I want to win, but when you’re not competing at the front, you’re definitely a little bit gutted,” Hamilton admitted.

The Canadian Grand Prix illustrated some of Ferrari’s technical issues. Starting fifth on the grid, Hamilton’s race was derailed when he collided with a groundhog on lap 12, damaging his car and losing 20 points of downforce.

That incident cost him half a second per lap and ended his podium hopes for Montreal. He described the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as exposing the car’s main weaknesses, especially in slower corners with excess understeer that made the car difficult to drive.

Looking ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29, Hamilton is cautiously optimistic. He believes the Ferrari can perform better on circuits with more medium and high-speed corners.

However, he does not expect the SF-25 to match the pace of the McLarens or Red Bulls, especially as both teams have looked strong in recent races. “Hopefully we’ll still be in there,” he said, remaining pragmatic about the competition.

In the 2025 F1 standings, Hamilton currently sits sixth with 79 points, while Ferrari is third in the teams’ race with 183 points. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, leads the way for Ferrari with 104 points.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are currently dominating the standings for drivers and teams alike. Hamilton’s focus now is on adaptation, teamwork, and pushing Ferrari to improve for the future. For more on McLaren’s current form and Hamilton’s past performance, see McLaren and Lewis Hamilton’s Monaco challenges.

While this season may not deliver race wins, his experience and leadership are central to laying the groundwork for a stronger challenge in 2026. Both team and driver continue to work toward making Ferrari competitive at the front once again.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.