Hamilton 'Running Out of Time' at Ferrari, Warns...

Hamilton ‘Running Out of Time’ at Ferrari, Warns…read more

Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Ferrari has not lived up to expectations so far, with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion facing growing scrutiny just six races into his debut season with the iconic Italian team. Having left Mercedes—where he spent 12 years and claimed six world titles—in pursuit of a record-breaking eighth championship, Hamilton’s start with Ferrari has been rocky, and doubts are emerging about whether he will be given the time to find his footing.

In the early stages of the 2025 season, Hamilton currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings and has yet to score a podium finish. Even more concerning for fans and analysts alike is his performance in comparison to Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver has outqualified Hamilton in five of the six races so far, highlighting a growing gap between the pair in terms of competitiveness and pace.

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has now weighed in, suggesting that Ferrari might not show the same level of patience that Mercedes extended to Hamilton during more difficult spells. Speaking to Vision4Sport, Villeneuve pointed out that Ferrari operates with a different culture—one marked by pressure, urgency, and high expectations.

“You can hear that Lewis Hamilton is not happy at all,” Villeneuve said. “Charles Leclerc has been stepping up more and more, and you can hear it in Lewis’ comments—‘I’m sorry.’ Once you start apologizing publicly, you lose credibility. People begin to think you’re only along for the ride.”

Villeneuve went further, describing Ferrari as a “fickle” environment where passion and immediate results are paramount. “Ferrari are like a volcano, you need those fireworks. You need the passion, the spark to set things off. If you don’t have the sparks, that’s a problem. At Mercedes, Lewis was allowed time. At Ferrari, you need to show results instantly.”

Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes before his contract ended in 2025 was seen as a bold move, motivated by the desire to achieve historic success with the sport’s most storied team. However, his recent form has raised questions. Across his last 30 grands prix—spanning the end of his time at Mercedes and the beginning of his Ferrari tenure—Hamilton has been outqualified by his teammates 24 times, an unusually poor run for a driver of his caliber.

Adding to the chorus of concern, Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate George Russell recently mentioned that Hamilton appears to be “not enjoying” his experience at Ferrari. Despite this, Russell expressed confidence that Hamilton could turn things around and find the chemistry needed to succeed with the Maranello squad.

Villeneuve believes that Hamilton is in urgent need of a breakthrough moment—something to reignite his confidence and cement his role within Ferrari. “The sprint race in China seemed like it could be the spark, but no fire came out after that,” he commented, suggesting that while there have been glimpses of promise, they’ve yet to evolve into consistent performances.

With the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix approaching—a home race for Ferrari—pressure is mounting on Hamilton to deliver a strong result and begin rewriting the narrative of his 2025 season. The passionate Italian fanbase will be watching closely, and a big performance at Imola could be the catalyst Hamilton needs to revive his campaign.

In a team like Ferrari, history and expectations weigh heavily, and the window for adaptation is often much smaller than elsewhere. As Villeneuve warns, unless Hamilton can rediscover the fire that once made him nearly unbeatable, his time with Ferrari may run out before he has the chance to achieve his ultimate goal.