Hamilton Faces Ongoing Struggles in Ferrari Debut

Lewis Hamilton has called his start to the 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari 'horrible' and 'painful', admitting he does not expect improvement this year. Despite claiming a sprint race victory in China, Hamilton has not finished higher than fifth in any main race, and was over 30 seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc in Saudi Arabia, where Leclerc earned Ferrari’s first podium of 2025. Hamilton highlighted issues with grip, understeer, and car balance, noting that his setup data is nearly identical to Leclerc's but the performance gap remains, partly due to Leclerc's experience with Ferrari. He expressed frustration and confusion, acknowledging there is currently 'no fix' for his difficulties. Fans and pundits, including Martin Brundle, have observed Hamilton’s visible disappointment and uncertainty about how to move forward. This difficult start has surprised many, given the high expectations for Hamilton's move to Ferrari.