Lewis Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari are just beginning, with a "real confrontation" against teammate Charles Leclerc predicted. The seven-time F1 champion, who joined Ferrari after two decades with Mercedes, has had a difficult start to his Scuderia tenure.
Why it matters: Despite a sprint race win in China, Hamilton has yet to secure a Grand Prix podium, a stark contrast to Leclerc's five podiums this season. This performance gap has led to Hamilton openly expressing frustration, even calling himself "useless" after Hungarian GP qualifying.
The details:
- Adaptation Challenges: 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve notes Hamilton's past experience with English and German working methods differs greatly from Ferrari's. Villeneuve found Hamilton's demoralization surprising, attributing it partly to Ferrari's "confusion about decisions and communication."
- Hungary GP Low: The Hungarian Grand Prix marked Hamilton's worst weekend yet, finishing 12th on a track where he holds eight wins.
- Learning Curve: While Leclerc is in his seventh season with Ferrari, making it tough for Hamilton to match him immediately, Hamilton has also struggled with ground-effect cars since 2022.
What's next: Villeneuve believes the "real confrontation" between Hamilton and Leclerc will occur in 2026, when new power unit regulations and car designs are introduced. This is expected to put both drivers on a more level playing field. However, Hamilton's initial period at Ferrari, given the high expectations, has been "undoubtedly disappointing."