Lewis Hamilton finished his first season with Ferrari in 2025 calling it a “nightmare” and the worst year of his Formula 1 career. For the first time in 19 seasons he failed to score a podium, and the emotional toll was clear as he spoke of anger, exhaustion, and a desire to disconnect completely over the winter. The move to Ferrari had begun with huge optimism, pairing the sport’s most successful driver with its most iconic team in pursuit of an eighth world title, but that promise quickly faded.
Ferrari’s car proved difficult and inconsistent, particularly due to skid wear problems that forced performance-limiting compromises. Although Hamilton won a sprint race in China, repeated technical issues and strategic limitations undermined race pace across the season. He struggled more t…
Lewis Hamilton finished his first season with Ferrari in 2025 calling it a “nightmare” and the worst year of his Formula 1 career. For the first time in 19 seasons he failed to score a podium, and the emotional toll was clear as he spoke of anger, exhaustion, and a desire to disconnect completely over the winter. The move to Ferrari had begun with huge optimism, pairing the sport’s most successful driver with its most iconic team in pursuit of an eighth world title, but that promise quickly faded.
Ferrari’s car proved difficult and inconsistent, particularly due to skid wear problems that forced performance-limiting compromises. Although Hamilton won a sprint race in China, repeated technical issues and strategic limitations undermined race pace across the season. He struggled more than team-mate Charles Leclerc, who consistently out-qualified him and finished 86 points ahead, leading to unusually self-critical public comments from Hamilton. Team principal Frederic Vasseur downplayed these remarks as emotional reactions in an exceptionally tight field.
Ferrari’s first winless season since 2021 intensified scrutiny, and chairman John Elkann urged the drivers to focus more on driving and less on public commentary. Despite his frustrations, Hamilton insists he remains motivated, believing the sweeping rule changes coming in 2026 could reset the competitive order. Whether his struggles reflect car characteristics, team issues, or the effects of age remains uncertain, but his attempt to rebound next season is set to be one of F1’s defining stories.