Hamilton’s Demoralization: The End of an Era at Ferrari?
The arrival of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari generated unprecedented anticipation. The presentation of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, flanked by his new teammate Charles Leclerc and team principal Frédéric Vasseur, at the O2 Arena in London, promised the beginning of a new golden era. However, the initial euphoria has faded, giving way to uncertainty and disillusionment.
Hamilton’s signing, coming from Mercedes, was announced as the missing piece for Ferrari to return to the top. The 2025 season, with the biggest name in the sport joining the most emblematic team, seemed destined to break the title drought that had been going on since 2008. Hamilton himself was “revitalized” by the challenge.
But the reality has been different. McLaren, which Ferrari almost surpassed in the constructors’ championship the previous year, has shown dominance. Hamilton’s victory in the China sprint race in April and a few podiums for Leclerc are the only achievements of the Italian team so far in 2025, before the summer break. Both Mercedes and Red Bull, who are behind Ferrari in the standings, can at least boast of Grand Prix victories this year.
The most worrying thing is that Hamilton’s “invigoration” seems to have given way to surrender. His statements in Budapest, where he called himself “absolutely useless”, could be remembered as the turning point of this expensive signing. On Saturday, after being eliminated in Q1, he even suggested that the team “probably needs to change drivers”.
This attitude contrasts with that of Leclerc, who, despite his exceptional qualifying lap, suffered a race full of problems. His radio messages, complaining about the team’s strategy, reminded fans of the frustration of past seasons. Although Leclerc tries to minimize criticism, the dynamic of criticizing and retracting has become repetitive.
Despite everything, Ferrari can find solace in Leclerc’s ability to make the most of adverse situations. However, the same cannot be said of Hamilton. The Hungarian Grand Prix was a weekend without positive aspects for the driver of number 44.Lewis Hamilton looked like a defeated man after the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished in a disappointing 12th place.Hamilton’s emotional transparency, a characteristic that has made him so captivating throughout his career, has manifested itself again. Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, acknowledged this facet, attributing it to Hamilton’s “raw” nature, who demands a lot from himself.
However, this transparency contrasts with his previous attitude, when he appeared confident and determined not to repeat the fate of other Ferrari drivers. It is undeniable that his performance has not met expectations.
Vasseur has downplayed the situation, arguing that Hamilton is frustrated, but not demotivated. However, Hamilton’s difficulties seem to go beyond race strategy. The timing of his team change could be a factor, given that drivers have struggled to adapt to their new cars in the last year of the regulation cycle.
Hamilton has highlighted the differences between Ferrari and Mercedes. Although the results are disappointing, Hamilton’s legacy demands more of him. Perhaps the visit he made to Mercedes before the Hungarian Grand Prix, at a time of low confidence, sought the familiarity of his successful days. The question is whether he still believes he can win with Ferrari. If so, that could be the biggest problem of all.
