Vettel Blames Hamilton for His Ferrari Title Failure

Sebastian Vettel has pointed to Lewis Hamilton as the key reason he failed to secure another Formula 1 championship during his time with Ferrari.

Vettel, a four-time world champion with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, switched to Ferrari in 2015 with the aim of bringing the team back to title-winning form. However, his tenure at the Scuderia coincided with Hamilton’s dominance at Mercedes, which saw the British driver win five championships between 2014 and 2020. Vettel fought closely with Hamilton for the title in 2017 and 2018 but ultimately fell short.

Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Vettel acknowledged that Hamilton’s presence was a major obstacle to his title ambitions. Speaking on BBC’s Sportsworld podcast, Vettel admitted, “For me, it didn’t quite work because Lewis was there.” He also expressed curiosity about how Hamilton would fare in his new chapter at Ferrari, adding, “Let’s see now how he will get on. My fingers are crossed.”

Despite their intense rivalry, Vettel spoke highly of Hamilton’s skills and impact on the sport. “We get along really well, and he’s by far the most outspoken driver on the grid at the moment,” Vettel said. “His on-track skills don’t need to be repeated—the statistics speak for themselves. It’s great to see that he’s still competing and using his influence in a positive way.”

Vettel’s Ferrari stint saw him claim 14 race victories, but he was unable to clinch a championship, with Mercedes maintaining an advantage following the major regulation changes in 2014. After winning four consecutive titles with Red Bull, Vettel hoped to replicate that success with Ferrari but found himself up against an era of Mercedes supremacy. The German driver eventually left Ferrari at the end of 2020 and retired from F1 after two seasons with Aston Martin.

Now, at 40 years old, Hamilton has taken on the challenge Vettel once faced—attempting to bring championship glory back to Ferrari. The seven-time world champion joined the Italian team in 2025, partnering Charles Leclerc as Ferrari seeks its first title since 2008.

However, Hamilton’s early races in red have been far from ideal. While he secured a sprint race victory in China, his performances in the main races have been less impressive. He has only managed to score one point from the first two races of the season. Additionally, he and teammate Leclerc suffered a setback at the Chinese Grand Prix, where both were disqualified due to excessive skid block wear.

Despite the challenges, Hamilton remains determined to succeed at Ferrari, much like Vettel was during his tenure. Whether he can break through and deliver the long-awaited championship remains to be seen.