Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari was meant to signal a bold new chapter in the seven-time World Champion’s glittering Formula 1 career. But nine races into the 2025 season, the reality has been far from triumphant. After a string of underwhelming performances and an alarming points deficit in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, Hamilton now hints that it may be time for Ferrari to write off the current season and begin focusing on 2026.
A rocky start to a legendary partnership
The hype surrounding Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was monumental, with fans and pundits alike expecting fireworks from the legendary Brit. However, the campaign has been marred by teething issues and lackluster pace. Lewis Hamilton’s only moments of success have come in the Sprint format—one win and one podium—while Grand Prix weekends have yielded minimal returns.
His adaptation to Ferrari’s machinery and systems appears to be a slow burn, but the underlying issue seems to run deeper. The team itself has regressed significantly compared to its 2024 form, when they were in a heated battle with McLaren for second in the Constructors’ standings. Now, they trail the championship leaders by a dismal 197 points, with not a single Grand Prix win to show for it.
Lewis Hamilton: “Before too soon, I’ll be just saying focus on next year”
Lewis Hamilton’s frustration came to the surface following a sixth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix—where he was overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber and failed to capitalize on Max Verstappen’s late penalty. Speaking about Ferrari’s competitiveness, the 39-year-old sounded uncertain and concerned.
“I don't know, if I'm honest,” he said when asked about Ferrari’s immediate prospects.
He then hinted at shifting the team’s focus toward the upcoming 2026 regulations:
“We haven't had an upgrade for quite some time. We'll keep pushing with what we have but, before too soon, I'll be just saying focus on next year.”
“So building foundations this year, learning about the tools in terms of structure, in terms of our processes, nailing those so when we arrive next year we'll be with the car that we really want.”
Charles Leclerc holds the line, but challenges persist
Charles Leclerc, who currently sits fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 94 points, has been more consistent than Lewis Hamilton but equally frustrated by Ferrari’s lack of race-winning pace. After claiming three podiums, the Monegasque remains hopeful that upcoming upgrades could help turn the tide.
“I’ll give everything until the end,” Leclerc stated. “I hope this weekend helps us to do a step in the right direction… we cannot afford to lose too many races.”
While Leclerc remains in the fight, Hamilton’s public doubts are a telling sign of where Ferrari may already be shifting focus—towards a long-term rebuild, rather than a short-term miracle.