JUST IN: Lewis Hamilton receives overwhelming backing to end career-worst F1 drought… Read more
Lewis Hamilton Backed by Fans to Break Podium Drought Despite Ferrari Struggles
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is enduring the most difficult spell of his illustrious career, yet fans remain optimistic that he will end his podium drought in the second half of the 2025 season.
Since joining Ferrari at the start of the year, Hamilton has yet to secure a top-three finish after 14 races. His best results so far have been three fourth-place finishes, coming at Imola, Austria, and his home race at Silverstone. For a driver who has amassed 202 podiums across his career, the barren run has been particularly glaring. It marks the first time Hamilton has gone into the summer break without a single podium finish to his name.
The drought stretches back further than his Ferrari switch. The last time Hamilton stood on a Formula 1 podium was at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he claimed second place while still driving for Mercedes. Since then, he has gone 16 races without a podium – the longest run of his career by some margin.
Much of his struggle this year has been linked to Ferrari’s difficulties adapting their car to Hamilton’s style. One of the biggest points of frustration has been the braking system. While Mercedes relied on Carbon Industrie components, Ferrari use Brembo brakes, which Hamilton has admitted he finds less comfortable and harder to manage during races. The lack of confidence in braking zones has hindered his performance, particularly in qualifying sessions where tenths of a second make the difference.
His frustrations came to a head during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. After qualifying only 12th, Hamilton gave a scathing self-assessment, describing himself as “useless” and even suggesting Ferrari might consider “another driver.” He would go on to finish 12th in the race itself, a full lap behind the leaders – another bitter blow in a season that has yet to deliver the results either he or Ferrari expected.
Despite the ongoing issues, Hamilton has committed to fighting on, confirming that he will line up at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break. The setback has not diminished the support he continues to enjoy from fans around the world. A recent poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of Formula 1 supporters still believe Hamilton will make it onto the podium before the end of the season.
When asked about how many podiums Hamilton might achieve, the largest share of voters – 31.92% – predicted that he would manage at least one podium finish. In total, 72.8% of respondents believed the Briton would eventually stand on the rostrum this year. However, not everyone was convinced. Nearly a quarter of voters, 22.69%, felt Hamilton would complete the season without managing a single podium, extending his personal drought even further.
For Hamilton, who has built his legacy on relentless success, this period represents unfamiliar territory. Yet history suggests that writing him off too soon would be a mistake. His determination, coupled with Ferrari’s ongoing development work, keeps alive the possibility of a turnaround in the second half of the season. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely when Formula 1 resumes at Zandvoort to see whether Hamilton can finally reclaim a spot on the podium and end his longest-ever wait for glory.
About The Author
