Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, a narrative in Method 1 marked by difficulties. One third of the 2025 championship is already behind us and sadly the arrival of the English driver in Maranello has not produced any magical impact, attributable to a technical regression in comparison with the nice progress made final season. Even the Monaco weekend was extraordinarily disappointing for the seven-time Method 1 world champion, who was ruthlessly outperformed by Charles Leclerc on house turf.
Lewis Hamilton’s discomfort is made evident by the crew radio messages, which reveal main points in adapting to the brand new technical and human setting. The Anglo-Caribbean driver is a refined communicator, and his messages are subliminal for individuals who can grasp their that means. To finest face what is probably going the ultimate chapter of a stellar profession, Lewis Hamilton has tried to construct his consolation zone.
He did this by bringing trusted individuals with him, akin to his long-time private assistant from Mercedes, Angela Cullen. It’s no secret that the seven-time Method 1 world champion needed to proceed his partnership with “Bono”, Peter Bonnington, the veteran race engineer from his lengthy tenure in Brackley. A collaboration that might not proceed in purple for numerous causes.
The British driver rolled up his sleeves, making an attempt to settle into the Maranello setting as rapidly as doable. He put in most effort, making an attempt to point out that worry of change was not in his nature. Nevertheless, the indicators of discomfort are actually too evident to disregard, each with Riccardo Adami and extra usually.
Past the beating taken from Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend was definitively compromised by a deadly misunderstanding through the first a part of the qualifying session on Saturday. The impeding incident in Q1 involving Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen occurred as a result of Riccardo Adami had knowledgeable him that the Crimson Bull driver had slowed down behind him, when the truth is he was on a flying lap. The ensuing three-place grid penalty dropped him from fourth to seventh on the grid for the beginning of the Monaco Grand Prix.
A horrible blow additionally when it comes to Ferrari’s general race technique, lowering the tactical choices accessible to the crew in purple to outmaneuver the excellent McLaren on a observe the place it’s unimaginable to overhaul. Within the race, though automotive quantity 44 gained two positions and completed fifth, the communications between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami had been as soon as once more removed from clean. Actually, the proper time period could be virtually surreal.
On the finish of the race, the British driver defined that he hadn’t understood what he was preventing for, solely gaining a transparent image of the state of affairs after reviewing the info post-race. The water poured on the flames by Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur within the regular post-race interviews additional confirms a worrying disconnect between the communication anticipated by the driving force and that offered by the crew.
The sensation is that the Ferrari pit wall lacks an authoritative determine to supervise the work of the 2 race engineers. Somebody like Ross Brawn, to provide one other instance, able to intervene decisively when communication points danger severely compromising the crew’s general outcome, and able to instantly shutting down embarrassing episodes broadcast worldwide.
One other sore level is Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing complaints concerning the braking system, described as an actual lottery through the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – in different phrases, on the Imola circuit. A supply of frustration that pressured Brembo, via its Communications Supervisor Daniele Bettini, to make clear issues by way of Method 1’s Italian broadcaster.
The swap from the Carbon Industries braking system used at Mercedes to Brembo elements, the historic accomplice of Scuderia Ferrari, is proving very tough for Lewis Hamilton. The English Ferrari driver has repeatedly highlighted the problem of understanding its habits, because of the unpredictability of the brakes from one set to a different. An element that’s turning into a continuing all through the 2025 Method 1 season.
The Italian firm, via its communications head, defined that Brembo is working carefully with the Maranello crew to attempt to meet the wants of the historic crew. Nevertheless, Daniele Bettini’s look dwell on SkySportF1 appeared like a mandatory transfer, a form of safety of the picture of one among Italy’s biggest motorsport excellences, specifically Brembo.
— see video above —
Might 27, 2025
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
