Title: Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles: A Missed Opportunity for Key Support?
In a stunning revelation, former F1 driver Martin Brundle has raised critical concerns about Lewis Hamilton’s challenging debut season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, who has yet to secure a podium finish this year, finds himself grappling with a situation that could have been dramatically different had he brought along “key people” from his Mercedes glory days.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari was anticipated with great excitement, but the reality has been far from the dream scenario he envisioned. Brundle argues that the presence of his trusted race engineer, Pete Bonnington—affectionately known as Bono—could have provided Hamilton with the essential support needed to navigate the tumultuous waters of his new team. Bonnington, who is currently working with rising star Kimi Antonelli, was a cornerstone of Hamilton’s success at Mercedes, and his absence has been felt deeply.
With Hamilton now holding the record for the longest podium-less streak at Ferrari since joining, the pressure is mounting. As he inches closer to the grim milestone of an entire year without a podium—something unprecedented in his illustrious career—his demeanor in the media spotlight has reflected his internal struggles. The Briton has appeared visibly defeated and disheartened as Ferrari descends into a fourth-place position in the constructors’ standings, seemingly resigned to a season that many would consider a catastrophic failure.
Brundle’s insights on Sky Sports F1 paint a picture of a driver who entered this new chapter with high hopes, aiming to replicate the legendary feats of Michael Schumacher. “I think Lewis went there waiting to see how Ferrari was, to work for 2026—the biggest change in the history of Formula 1, all in one winter,” Brundle explained. However, the stark reality has proven to be more challenging than anticipated. Hamilton’s aspirations of transforming Ferrari into a dominant force are proving to be a monumental task.
The comparison to Schumacher’s era is striking. When Schumacher joined Ferrari, he brought with him critical figures like Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, who were pivotal in turning the team into a formidable powerhouse, clinching six constructors’ championships and five drivers’ titles from 1999 to 2004. Brundle emphasized that Hamilton’s lack of similar support has hindered his ability to make a significant impact at Maranello.
The former F1 star further elaborated, “Lewis was so embedded at Mercedes-Benz, he probably had 101 things happening every day that he didn’t even notice. The infrastructure, the focus… it was all there for him.” Without those crucial elements in place at Ferrari, Hamilton’s learning curve has become steeper than expected.
As the Formula 1 world looks ahead to the substantial changes in the power unit and chassis for the upcoming season, hope remains that Hamilton’s fortunes could shift dramatically. However, the pressing question lingers: could Hamilton’s fate have been altered had he managed to carry some of his Mercedes support with him?
In a sport where every detail counts, the absence of key allies is a glaring oversight that could define Hamilton’s legacy at Ferrari. The clock is ticking, and with the first test of the next season just weeks away, the pressure is on for Hamilton to start delivering results. Will he rise to the occasion or continue to struggle in a team that has yet to find its footing? Only time will tell as the saga of Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari unfolds.









