Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari switch tougher than expected in 2025 F1 season

Hamilton admits he “didn't know how tough” Ferrari move would be

Seven-time world champion faces major 2025 F1 challenges after Mercedes exit

IMOLA, ITALY — Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged the steep difficulties he's encountered since joining Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, admitting that adapting to the team has been more challenging than he anticipated.

In a candid media session ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion reflected on a rocky start to his Ferrari career, which has seen him fall to seventh in the drivers’ standings after six rounds — 90 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.

“I came in with a really open mind. I didn’t know how tough it was going to be,” Hamilton said. “It’s as challenging as it could ever be on all fronts.”

A high-profile transition with growing pains

Hamilton’s high-profile move from Mercedes — where he claimed six titles in 12 seasons — to Ferrari over the winter shocked the paddock and fans alike. With Ferrari coming off a runner-up finish in the 2024 constructors’ championship, expectations were high for a serious title push in 2025.

But those ambitions have yet to materialise. While team-mate Charles Leclerc has consistently outperformed him, Hamilton’s Ferrari tenure has been marked by inconsistency and difficulty in fully understanding the car’s nuances.

“The team is working well together, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done,” Hamilton admitted.

"Championship? There's still a long, long way to go"

Despite the deficit, Hamilton is not ruling anything out entirely — but he acknowledged the uphill battle:

“When you’re over 100 points behind at this point in the season, with a car that’s up against a car that’s quite dominant, you have to assume that you’re not necessarily fighting for the win in the championship.”

Still, he stressed that momentum can shift quickly in F1, although such turnarounds are rare at this level of deficit.

Hope in upgrades — and Imola a stepping stone

Hamilton secured a sprint race victory in Shanghai, showing flashes of speed, but overall Ferrari has been lacking in race pace and tyre management.

The team has brought minor updates to Imola, with more substantial upgrades planned for Barcelona in two races' time, when the FIA will also introduce a new technical directive targeting flexible wings — a change that could shift performance balances among top teams.

“At the moment, I can’t tell you whether we’re going to gain full tenths, half a second, a second by the end of the season,” Hamilton said. “But we have to stay vigilant. We have to push with the expectation and the goal of winning.”

Staying mentally sharp and aggressive

Hamilton emphasised the importance of mindset in these circumstances, saying that despite Ferrari’s current struggles, he is approaching each race with belief and intensity.

“That’s still the goal of each weekend. Right now, when I’m sitting with the engineers, it’s ‘how are we going to win this weekend?’”

He added that every department must contribute marginal gains — from tyre performance to aerodynamic tweaks — to claw back the deficit.

“If every single one of us is able to pull out half a tenth each… then maybe we can just get there.”

A realistic but motivated mindset

Hamilton conceded that his approach may seem “extra hopeful,” but believes that positivity and aggression are necessary to galvanise a team in transition.

“You have to believe we’ll find it. I’m not arriving into the weekend thinking we’re seventh and eighth and that’s just where we are. And I’m not going to change that.”

As Ferrari looks ahead to Barcelona and further into the season, Hamilton’s outlook remains grounded in experience — but also in faith that his presence can spark a breakthrough.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for full 2025 F1 season coverage, race weekend analysis, and exclusive updates from the paddock.