Lewis Hamilton’s Struggle to Adapt to Ferrari Unveiled: “I Never Expected It to Go So Badly”
The Formula 1 world is shaken as Lewis Hamilton opens up about his unexpected challenges adapting to the Ferrari SF-25. The seven-time world champion’s dismay was palpable after a difficult weekend at the Bahrain GP 2025, where he could only manage a disappointing fifth place finish.
Hamilton’s uphill battle began with a lackluster qualifying session, placing him in ninth on the starting grid. Despite a commendable comeback during the race, finishing behind teammate Charles Leclerc, the Briton faced over an eight-second gap in just over 20 laps, shedding light on his struggles to acclimate to the SF-25’s unique characteristics.
In a candid moment with Sky, Hamilton admitted, “I never expected it to go so badly, actually. I didn’t think my performance would be like this and that my ability to adapt to this car would be as negative as it has been. But that’s okay, I won’t give up for sure and I’ll keep pushing.”
The racing icon elaborated on his challenges, revealing, “I’ve switched to a new car that requires a different driving style and settings. I’m using engine braking, which I’ve never used before, and the brakes are also very different. Here we use Brembo, whereas for the last 15 years, I’ve used Carbone Industrie.”
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains determined to find solutions, expressing, “This car requires a very different driving style, and I’m adapting. I’m slowly putting certain things in my head to find the right balance. But it’s also clear that Charles sticks with a setup and keeps it practically the same throughout the weekend, while I’m far from him.”
Looking ahead, Hamilton is optimistic about improvement, stating, “I know I can do it, and I will. Next week I’ll try to start from a better point and not deviate too much from that base. I think I’ve understood how the car wants to be driven and hope to apply these lessons next weekend. If I can qualify better, I can achieve much better results.”
As the racing world watches with bated breath, Hamilton’s journey to adapt to Ferrari’s demands unfolds, promising an electrifying season ahead.
