Breaking:Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Blamed on Adaptation, Not A…read more
Breaking:Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Blamed on Adaptation, Not A…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start to life at Ferrari isn’t down to his age, according to former F1 driver Martin Brundle, but rather his ongoing battle to adapt to a car that doesn’t suit his driving style.
Hamilton, 40, has yet to hit top form in his debut season with Ferrari. Despite hopes of a resurgence after leaving Mercedes, the seven-time world champion has continued to show signs of frustration—particularly in his post-session interviews, which have taken on a tone reminiscent of his final years with the Silver Arrows.
After qualifying in Bahrain, Hamilton summed up his disappointment by saying, “It happens every Saturday,” highlighting a pattern of underwhelming performances.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Brundle dismissed age as the root cause: “I don’t think age is Lewis’ problem. He hasn’t lost his vision or his ability to drive. He’s just struggling to get the car feeling the way he wants.”
Brundle pointed out that while Hamilton is adjusting to a new team and car, younger drivers—many with over 100 races under their belt—continue to grow and adapt more fluidly.
Ferrari made several floor upgrades for the Bahrain Grand Prix in an attempt to boost performance. While Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished fourth and fifth respectively, the team remains well short of its pre-season goals. Ferrari has also been grappling with ride-height issues, which culminated in their first-ever double disqualification at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Naomi Schiff, also speaking on Sky Sports, added that Ferrari may know where the car’s “sweet spot” is, but they can’t exploit it without triggering technical infringements. This forces the team to run a compromised setup.
She also emphasized the challenge facing veteran drivers like Hamilton and Carlos Sainz: “They’re having to unlearn habits developed over years, while young drivers are building their approach from scratch. For Lewis, it’s a compounded issue.”
With the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix approaching, Hamilton and Ferrari will be looking for signs of progress as they aim to close the gap to the front.
