Ferrari engineer: Hamilton relationship 'not as bad as it looks'

Ferrari's head of track engineering, Matteo Togninalli, has pushed back against the widespread perception that Lewis Hamilton's first season with the Scuderia has been defined by tension, insisting the seven-time champion's relationship with the team is far healthier than it appears from the outside. He attributes the challenging optics to the natural difficulties of a major team change and the shared frustration of a season that fell short of championship ambitions.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari was the story of the 2025 season, and every radio exchange and result has been scrutinized for signs of discord. Togninalli's public defense aims to reset the narrative, emphasizing a foundation of mutual respect and a long-term building process. For Ferrari, managing the integration of F1's biggest star is as crucial as solving their technical issues for future success.

The details:

• Perception Gap: Togninalli argues that external views are "quite worse than what it is," stating the relationship being built with Hamilton is "extremely positive." He acknowledges the adaptation period was likely underestimated by both sides.
• Root of Frustration: The engineer directly links the tense appearance to performance shortfalls. The shared frustration of not fighting for the championship, after Hamilton's years of winning titles, has amplified normal growing pains.
• The Real Culprit: Togninalli identifies qualifying tire performance as the team's primary technical hurdle in 2025, calling it "extremely sensitive." He notes that tiny preparation differences can swing lap times by two-to-three tenths, a margin that defines grid positions in a tightly packed field.
• Contextual Setbacks: He points to specific, situational setbacks—like Hamilton hitting a bollard in Las Vegas or Charles Leclerc missing a final Q3 lap—that compounded their qualifying struggles beyond the core tire issue.

The big picture:

Togninalli's comments reframe Ferrari's 2025 season. The story is less about a fractured relationship with their new star driver and more about a top team and a legendary driver working through a complex, multi-layered adaptation. The challenges involve synchronizing operational methods after a decade-long partnership at Mercedes, managing the psychology of unmet expectations, and solving the precise technical puzzle of modern F1 tires. His confidence in an improving partnership suggests Ferrari views this as a necessary, if painful, phase in a longer-term project.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to 2026. With a full season of integration behind them, the pressure will intensify for Hamilton and Ferrari to turn their "very, very strong link" into consistent front-running results. The team's ability to improve its single-lap tire performance and provide Hamilton with a car capable of challenging for wins will be the ultimate test of this partnership's health and potential.