BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Trait That Doesn’t Suit His Ferrari U…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s Driving Habit That Doesn’t Suit His Ferrari
A key aspect of Lewis Hamilton’s driving style, which helped define his legendary career, has been highlighted as a major problem in his adjustment to Ferrari’s SF-25.
Hamilton’s blockbuster move from Mercedes to Ferrari this season was expected to spark a new golden era, but so far, the results have fallen short of expectations.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Alex Brundle revealed that Hamilton’s braking technique a long-standing habit is causing issues with his new car.
“He’s talked about bringing the car closer to him, and adapting himself to the car,” Brundle said. “Looking at Lewis’s data each weekend, the same pattern appears: he applies slightly more brake pressure than Charles Leclerc when entering high-speed corners.”
This slight extra braking unsettles the Ferrari, Brundle explained: “If you trace the wheel speed and steering data, the braking lines up with a small movement that disrupts the car’s balance.”
In contrast, Leclerc’s measured and precise braking approach is a better match for the SF-25’s characteristics.
Brundle noted that this wasn’t a new issue for Hamilton: “We saw it at Mercedes too. The question now is whether he can unlearn a technique he’s used for his entire career.”
Brundle compared Hamilton’s struggles to Carlos Sainz, who has quickly adapted to life at Williams, suggesting that adjusting quickly is crucial in today’s F1 landscape.
Modern F1 cars also leave little room for drivers to think on the fly, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who pointed out that the current generation demands instinctive, reflex-driven performances making Hamilton’s transition even harder.
Brundle summed it up starkly: “It’s a vicious cycle. You chase time, but it just makes things worse.”
Five races into the 2025 season, Hamilton has yet to outperform his teammate Leclerc in a grand prix. His frustration has become more obvious in recent interviews, where he admitted he has no clear idea when his struggles might end.
Hamilton’s qualifying woes which also plagued him last season against George Russell at Mercedes have continued at Ferrari. After a poor qualifying session in Bahrain, he confessed: “It happens every Saturday.”
Both Hamilton and Leclerc have recognized that Ferrari’s difficulty over one lap is hurting their Sunday performances, but Hamilton has been careful not to blame the car, acknowledging that his own driving is a key part of the issue.
As he continues his quest for an eighth world title, Hamilton faces one of the biggest challenges of his career: adapting a deeply ingrained driving style to meet Ferrari’s demands.
