Ferrari Admits Underestimating Lewis Hamilton's Transition Challenge
Why it matters: Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has openly stated that the Italian outfit possibly "underestimated" the difficulty of Lewis Hamilton's transition to the Scuderia. This declaration sheds light on the seven-time world champion's struggles since making the high-profile move from Mercedes.
The big picture: Hamilton, who spent almost two decades racing with Mercedes-powered packages, has faced a significant challenge adapting to the Maranello-based environment. This includes familiarizing himself with the SF-25 car, establishing a working relationship with race engineer Ricardo Adami, and adjusting to Ferrari's overall operational culture compared to his previous team.
The details:
- Hamilton described himself as "useless" after qualifying 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a stark reflection of his difficulties.
- He even suggested the team should consider signing a new driver to replace him, highlighting his frustration.
- In contrast, Charles Leclerc has demonstrated strong performance, securing a pole position and five podiums for Ferrari in the 2025 season.
- Hamilton is yet to achieve a Grand Prix podium finish for the Scuderia, underscoring his current adaptation period.
What they're saying: Vasseur elaborated on the unique nature of Hamilton's move. "He spent almost 10 years with McLaren and then 10 years with Mercedes – that’s almost 20 years with Mercedes in the same environment," Vasseur told F1. "It was a huge change for Lewis in terms of culture, in terms of people around him, in terms of software, in terms of car, in terms of every single topic was a big change perhaps that we underestimate this, Lewis and myself."
What's next: Despite the initial difficulties, Vasseur expressed satisfaction with Hamilton's recent trajectory, noting, "I'm very, very pleased because the last four or five races he was back into the pace." This suggests a positive shift as Hamilton continues to integrate and find his rhythm within the Ferrari team.