Lewis Hamilton has recently acknowledged that the Ferrari SF-25 is markedly different from the ground-effect F1 cars he drove at Mercedes. The past few weeks have seen Hamilton embracing his new role as a Ferrari driver, exhibiting a cheerful demeanor and even adopting some Italian phrases.
Prior to Wednesday, Hamilton’s experience was confined to the SF-23 and SF-24. However, he has now had the chance to test the Scuderia’s 2025 F1 model, the SF-25. It’s worth noting that a filming day at Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit on Wednesday restricted the distance Hamilton could cover in the SF-25. Despite this, he quickly observed that his new environment was starkly different from the Mercedes’ designs he’d been accustomed to over the past three seasons.
“I am still getting accustomed to the Ferrari car. It’s considerably different from what I’ve been dealing with in this generation of vehicles, including the controls and everything else. I’ve been familiar with a specific way of operating over the past decade, and I am still adjusting to the new changes,” Hamilton shared with BBC.
Hamilton’s first drive in the SF-25 marked his maiden stint in Ferrari’s 2025 car. In comparison, Mercedes’ last three F1 vehicles, namely the W13, W14, and W15, yielded inconsistent results. Hamilton and his previous team grappled with one developmental issue after another, with Hamilton securing a mere two victories over that span. On the other hand, Ferrari has managed to produce two potential title contenders during the same period, with the SF-24 from last year claiming five race wins.
Following a narrow miss on the Constructors’ title by a mere 14 points to McLaren in 2024, Ferrari is hopeful that the car Hamilton is adapting to could potentially end their title drought.
Hamilton is currently working on modifying his driving style to suit the new Ferrari. In a conversation with a select group of media outlets, including Motorsport Week, the seven-time champion detailed the distinct elements between Mercedes and Ferrari that he is getting used to.
“I am definitely having to adjust my driving style. It’s rare to find a perfect fit straight away. For instance, the steering wheel is completely different. All the switch settings and the software are completely different. I am also adapting to a car that’s engineered quite differently from what I’ve worked with previously. To achieve a similar output, the feeling is significantly different,” he explained.
Despite the need for adjustment, Hamilton believes he doesn’t have to significantly alter his “style.” He feels quite “comfortable” in the SF-25 and is progressing one step at a time.
“I don’t believe I’m having to drastically modify my driving style at the moment. I’m actually quite comfortable in the car and am progressing gradually. As we move forward and experience real race circuits, we’ll see how much aligns and how much adjustment I might need to make. The key is to keep an open mind and to be adaptive. I believe my experience will be advantageous in accomplishing that,” added Hamilton.