Will Lewis Hamilton return to victory? An in-depth analysis
The 2025 Formula 1 season arrives in Italy for the seventh race of the world championship. The Monza circuit, a few kilometers from Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, poses a difficult question: will Lewis Hamilton win again?
The most successful driver in F1 history, with 105 victories, is at a crucial moment. Despite his impressive record, his last victory was a year ago. For elite drivers, this drought can be an abyss.
The challenge for Hamilton is to reverse the situation and get on the podium. However, neither the driver nor his new team, Ferrari, have given clear signs that this is possible.
“I’ve been nowhere all weekend.”
Lewis Hamilton
“There wasn’t a second [in which I felt comfortable]”.
Lewis Hamilton
“Clearly, the car is capable of being P3. [Charles Leclerc] did a great job today. So I can’t blame the car.”
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton’s hope is clear: “I am praying.” And about the car’s difficulties, he adds: “We are struggling a lot. We are trying not to make big changes to the setup, but whatever we do, it is very inconsistent every time we go out.”
The most revealing statement: “It’s just my performance. Bad performance. There are no reasons. I’m just not doing the work. I’m just not doing a good job on my part. So I have to keep improving… it’s definitely not a good feeling.”
This feeling is, at the very least, unusual for Hamilton. 291 days have passed since his last victory, in Spa in July 2024.
After a period of 56 races without victories, Hamilton has only won twice in his last 75 races. These victories were with his former team, which currently surpasses Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.
From 2007 to 2021, Hamilton averaged almost seven victories per year, with double-digit wins on six occasions.
This change of direction is an example of how an athlete can go from confidence to doubt. Uncertainty and difficulty are feelings shared by many in motorsport, where victory can be elusive.
The history of motorsports is full of examples of drivers who experienced the end of their winning streak, such as Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, and Michael Schumacher.
“Once that momentum shifts and starts to play against you, it’s difficult to change it.”
Jimmie Johnson
Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has observed Hamilton and shares his perspective. He acknowledges that sometimes what’s missing isn’t just the car or adapting to the new team.
Rick Mears, four-time Indy 500 winner, remembers the moment when the passion faded. He recognized the importance of knowing when to retire. For many, the transition is a long road that they don’t recognize until it’s too late.
“You feel the same. You act the same way. You drive the same way. You ask the same question and have the same answers and rely on the same knowledge and experience you’ve always had, but you don’t get the same results.”
Darrell Waltrip
However, sometimes the situation can change. Dale Earnhardt, with one victory in 100 races between 1996 and 1999, managed to win five times in the following two seasons.
“That’s the hope when you’re stuck in a bad streak, that one day it will work again and maybe you’ll have a great moment.”
Helio Castroneves
Castroneves, who revived his career in IndyCar, highlights the importance of perseverance. Damon Hill, 1996 world champion, also shares the satisfaction of achieving success in a struggling team.
Hamilton’s future is uncertain. Attention is focused on the new F1 car, which could be a reset for the 2026 season. Hamilton has already expressed his enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the challenge is to overcome self-criticism and doubt. For Hamilton, a victory would be a relief, with his sights set on 2026 and beyond. The dream of becoming the savior of Ferrari, as other champions have tried, is the goal.
Johnson advises Hamilton to adapt to the team and that the moment of the new generation could change things. If Ferrari is ready for 2026, history could be remarkable.
If Ferrari is not ready, the answer to the initial question is clear: he will not win again. But if Ferrari is ready, Hamilton’s story could be one of the most extraordinary in motorsport.
