Ex-Formula 1 driver Shinji Nakano is predicting a bumpy ride for Lewis Hamilton as he gears up for his inaugural season with Ferrari. After observing Hamilton’s handling of the Ferrari SF-25 during the Bahrain test drives, Nakano speculates that the transition may prove to be challenging for the seven-time World Champion.
The Ferrari SF-25 is said to retain a “slightly peaky” characteristic from its predecessor, the SF-24, which could necessitate Hamilton to recalibrate his driving style. This car’s behaviour has sparked widespread curiosity as Hamilton prepares for his much-anticipated debut with Ferrari.
Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari from Mercedes after a disappointing defeat to former teammate George Russell in 2024, has already exhausted his four TPC (testing of previous car) outings. His initial familiarity with the new SF-25 occurred at a Fiorano filming day and during one-and-a-half days of Bahrain testing.
However, as the 2025 F1 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, is just around the corner, Nakano foresees Hamilton needing to invest more time to acclimatise to his new “slightly peaky” Ferrari vehicle. Even for the most accomplished driver in F1, this could prove to be a demanding undertaking.
Hamilton, following his transfer, has been the focal point of interest, Nakano, a veteran F1 racer for Prost and Minardi, noted in his as-web.jp column. He elaborated that despite Hamilton clocking the second-fastest time in the pre-season test, his overall performance indicated a struggle with the new Ferrari vehicle.
The SF-25, Ferrari’s latest model, appears to have retained some of the unpredictable behaviour exhibited by the car from the previous year. Nakano stated that although Ferrari’s testing strategy remains unknown, the car still seemed to retain its peakiness. He suggested that Hamilton may face difficulties in the initial stages of adapting his driving style and making necessary adjustments to the car.
Renowned F1 designer Gary Anderson also shared a disconcerting evaluation of the SF-25, particularly in relation to Hamilton’s preferences in an F1 vehicle. He opined that the new Ferrari doesn’t seem to be a substantial improvement on last year’s Mercedes W15, which Hamilton found challenging.
In Anderson’s view, the SF-25 does not come across as a driver-friendly car. He noted that Hamilton prefers a manageable car that allows him to leverage his skills to the maximum and decrease lap time. However, the Ferrari SF-25 did not appear to meet this ideal during testing.
He mentioned that Hamilton encountered a few off-track moments due to the car hitting the ground hard and bouncing. He further stated that if Hamilton is making errors or running wide, it’s a clear sign that the car isn’t providing the feedback he needs.
In summary, Anderson is uncertain whether Hamilton has yet to find a car better suited to his driving style than the problematic vehicle he handled in 2024. However, he expressed optimism that Hamilton might find a solution through some set-up experiments and with the assistance of teammate Charles Leclerc, who has a better understanding of the Ferrari’s feel.
