Hamilton’s Struggles at Ferrari: A Season in Turmoil
Barcelona, Spain—Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari continues to be fraught with challenges as he faces mounting difficulties on the track. Following the recent Spanish Grand Prix, in which he finished sixth—elevated by a penalty for Max Verstappen—the former champion finds himself in a precarious position, now sixth in the drivers’ standings and trailing teammate Charles Leclerc by 23 points.
Johnny Herbert, a former F1 driver and current pundit, remarked that Hamilton is struggling to find his footing and suggested that Ferrari should prioritize Leclerc, who is seen as the team’s future. Hamilton himself described the Barcelona race as "the worst he had ever experienced," a notable comment in his 365-race career.
Despite the frustrations, Hamilton’s commitment remains evident. He has been actively engaging with Ferrari’s technical team, spending late nights at their Maranello factory to analyze data. Yet, the results have not matched his efforts. Issues with the car setup, including a recent disqualification in China due to a worn plank from being too low to the ground, and slower-than-anticipated upgrades have hampered performance.
The cultural shift from Mercedes to Ferrari has also posed a significant challenge, as Hamilton adapts to a new team dynamic and language barriers. Coupled with Ferrari’s historically poor strategic decisions, his quest for an eighth World Championship is looking increasingly bleak.
Hamilton’s future with Ferrari was aimed at preparing for the 2026 regulations rather than immediate successes, but with each passing race, questions about his long-term potential grow louder. As he grapples with this challenging season, even his most devoted fans are starting to doubt whether he can reclaim his previous dominance in F1. The narrative of Hamilton’s decline, once unthinkable, now looms large over the sport.
