Lewis Hamilton’s lack of performance at Ferrari has been one of the great mysteries of the 2025 Formula 1 season so far.
The Briton has gone 14 races without a podium and lies sixth in the drivers’ championship, a fair distance behind his teammate.
And whatever Ferrari have brought to their car to help him hasn’t worked so far. A recent rear suspension update appears to have made his life more difficult, if anything.
Hamilton will be aware that time is running out for him to achieve his dreams with the Scuderia. Fully focusing on the 2026 F1 regulations is now his best approach. He can use the rest of this year to learn.
Ferrari aren’t internally ignoring Hamilton’s ‘useless’ comments at the Hungarian Grand Prix. His frustration got the better of him after qualifying 12th.
After half a year in the job, Hamilton is ‘now realising’ how different Ferrari is and the level of commitment required to win with them. It’s why many before him have failed too.
READ MORE: Ferrari will be concerned by what Lewis Hamilton did as soon as he finished the Hungarian Grand Prix
Photo by Gabriele Lanzo/Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesBernie Collins shuts down Lewis Hamilton ‘conspiracy’ about Ferrari setups in 2025
Martin Brundle has made a ‘painful’ Hamilton prediction and can’t see the seven-time champion remaining at Ferrari beyond 2026.
Whether or not he becomes a player in the Formula 1 driver market again, or decides to retire, is another question. Perhaps a Mercedes return would be on the cards if Kimi Antonelli continues to struggle?
Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins has quashed rumours that Hamilton may not be allowed to run the same Ferrari setups as teammate Leclerc. It doesn’t explain his poor form.
“It’s already started the rumours around why is Ferrari not allowing Lewis [to have] the same car setup. They ran very, very slightly different wings,” she said.
“We didn’t hear any reason from Ferrari as to why they ran slightly different wings, but I suspect it’s driver preference. One will be slightly better in qualifying, one will be slightly better in race conditions, I’d imagine.
“I don’t think there’s any conspiracy there. These things kick off very, very quickly. I think it’s everyone in that team, will be working to try and get the best out of both drivers.”
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton’s last Hungarian Grand Prix radio message leaves Ferrari in a difficult position
What can Lewis Hamilton do in the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season?
Spending more time on track with Ferrari’s recent upgrades should help both drivers to extract more performance from them. They just need those laps under their belts.
Hamilton matched an unwanted Alain Prost record at Budapest and finished outside the points for the first time in a race for Ferrari.
He won’t want to suffer that fate again, but Damon Hill has warned Hamilton ‘it gets harder’ the older you get.
Next year, he will be 41 and vying to become the sport’s third-oldest champion of all time, and oldest since 1967.