BREAKING: Hamilton’s PAIN deepens as he Faces a nightmare at… read more
HAMILTON’S PAIN DEEPENS: VASSEUR DEFENDS DRIVER AS FERRARI WOES CONTINUE IN F1 STRUGGLE
By Hugo Harvey
Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated move to Ferrari is turning into a painful experience, with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion openly voicing his frustrations over the car’s lack of pace and performance. Following a disappointing run of races and a “horrible” outing in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton’s adaptation to life in red has been anything but smooth.
Hamilton’s struggles have seen him finish seventh, fifth, and seventh in his last three Grand Prix outings, a far cry from the level of competitiveness fans have come to expect from the British superstar. His performance in Jeddah was especially jarring, as he trailed teammate Charles Leclerc by over thirty seconds – a margin that raised eyebrows in the paddock and led to renewed scrutiny over his form.
In the aftermath of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton did not mince his words. “It was horrible,” he said candidly. “It was not enjoyable at all. I was just sliding around… I lacked grip, I lacked good balance. I was just fighting the car every corner, and nothing I did would work.” These words painted a picture of a driver clearly at odds with his machinery, and without a clear solution in sight.
The former Mercedes ace did enjoy a momentary high with a Sprint win in China, but that flash of promise has done little to disguise the underlying issues he is facing. Ferrari’s SF-25 car, while showing flashes of competitiveness in Leclerc’s hands, has not proven to be a comfortable fit for Hamilton so far.
Looking ahead to the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton is not brimming with confidence. He admitted that Leclerc’s deeper understanding of Ferrari’s systems gives the Monegasque driver a clear edge in extracting the car’s potential. “There’s not much between us in the data,” Hamilton said, “but he knows how to work with this car. I’m still trying to find that rhythm.”
Hamilton’s assessment of the current generation of F1 cars was blunt. He labeled the new ground effect machines introduced with the recent regulation changes as “the worst,” indicating his ongoing dissatisfaction with how the cars respond, especially under braking and cornering.
Despite his personal challenges, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has come to Hamilton’s defense, dismissing criticism of the British driver’s form. Vasseur insists that the transition period was always going to come with obstacles and that the team remains committed to helping Hamilton get fully acclimated.
“People forget how complex it is to jump from one team’s philosophy to another,” Vasseur noted. “Lewis is a professional, and we’re working closely to understand what he needs from the car. These things take time.”
Vasseur’s comments were a clear attempt to shield Hamilton from mounting pressure as the spotlight intensifies. The Ferrari boss also reiterated that both drivers are receiving equal support and that any performance gap is more down to familiarity than favoritism.
Still, with expectations sky-high and Ferrari desperate to close the gap to Red Bull and McLaren, Hamilton’s teething issues have only added to the Scuderia’s frustration. The Italian giants had hoped Hamilton’s arrival would signal a turning point, but so far, it has instead underlined how deep the team’s structural and performance issues truly run.
Fans of the Briton, who had hoped for a fairytale chapter in Ferrari red, are now left hoping for a turnaround. With no quick fixes on the horizon and tension growing within the team, Hamilton’s journey with Ferrari looks set to be one of his greatest challenges yet.
As the F1 calendar moves on to Miami, all eyes will remain on Hamilton – not just to see if he can rebound, but to find out whether Ferrari can finally provide a car worthy of a champion.
