Lewis Hamilton Urged to Seek Sebastian Vettel's Advice Amid Ferrari Struggles
Why it matters: Lewis Hamilton is struggling significantly in his first season with Ferrari, leading a former team mechanic to suggest he seek advice from Sebastian Vettel, who faced similar challenges with Charles Leclerc during his time with the Scuderia. Hamilton's performance has been notably behind Leclerc's, raising questions about his adaptation and future.
The Details:
- Hamilton's Difficult Start: Since his high-profile move from Mercedes, Hamilton has yet to secure a podium finish in 14 appearances for Ferrari. A particular low point came at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where he qualified 12th, while his teammate Charles Leclerc claimed Ferrari's first pole position of the F1 2025 season.
- Public Frustration: In Budapest, Hamilton expressed his dejection, reportedly calling himself "useless" and suggesting Ferrari might consider replacing him. He also hinted at underlying issues within the team, stating, "There’s a lot going on in the background that’s not great."
- Vettel's Precedent: Francesco Cigarini, a former Ferrari mechanic, drew parallels between Hamilton's current situation and Sebastian Vettel's struggles against Leclerc in 2019 and 2020. Cigarini noted that Leclerc prefers a "sharply tuned car" with a "very free rear end," a setup that made Vettel "look like a novice" when he attempted to adapt to it. Cigarini believes Hamilton is now experiencing the same challenge.
- Setup Differences: Despite Cigarini's suggestion that Hamilton might be copying Leclerc's setup, an Italian report from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicates the opposite. The report claims Hamilton has been experimenting widely with various "not optimal" setups (bars, shock absorbers, wing levels) for the SF-25 car in a bid to find a breakthrough, while Leclerc has found success with more conventional choices. Ferrari was reportedly surprised by the divergence, expecting more alignment given their similar driving styles.
- Vettel's Prior Consultations: Hamilton has previously sought advice from Vettel regarding Ferrari. He called Vettel for insights before his maiden test run at Fiorano and also inquired about his future race engineer, Riccardo Adami, who worked with Vettel during his Ferrari tenure. Hamilton has even adopted Vettel's famous working method of making handwritten notes during pre-season testing.
What's Next:
- Hamilton's Proactive Approach: Hamilton confirmed he has sent "documents" to Ferrari proposing improvements for the team and the car. His strong determination stems from a desire to avoid the fate of previous champions like Vettel and Fernando Alonso, who failed to win a title with Ferrari.
- Challenging the Status Quo: Hamilton stated, "I refuse for that to be the case with me, so I’m going the extra mile." He sees "huge potential" in the team and believes it can win "multiple World Championships" if every area is challenged, particularly decision-makers. He emphasized his role in pushing the team to fulfill its potential, acknowledging that for him, "it’s crunch time."