Ferrari SF-25: how Lewis Hamilton may have to adapt his driving style in 2025
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As Lewis Hamilton embarks on his 18th season in Formula 1, his move to Ferrari has sparked heightened anticipation regarding how the 40-year-old driver will perform in a new environment. The shift to Ferrari has overshadowed his age, with the continued presence of Fernando Alonso in the sport reminding everyone that experience in F1 remains valuable. Ferrari's team principal, Frederic Vasseur, has expressed no concerns about Hamilton entering the later stages of his career, a sentiment backed by the decision to sign the seven-time Formula 1 world champion to replace Carlos Sainz.
Lewis Hamilton's contract with Ferrari is initially set for two years, with the possibility of an extension should both parties feel satisfied with their progress over that period. Ferrari's narrow miss in securing the Constructors' Championship in 2024, combined with noticeable improvements throughout the season, will likely motivate both Hamilton and his new Maranello teammate, Charles Leclerc, as they look ahead to 2025.
Yet, for the first time in his illustrious F1 career, the British driver has voiced uncertainties regarding his performance. Throughout the 2024 F1 campaign, he was outqualified by his teammate George Russell in 19 of the 24 races, which led to visible frustration and reflection on his performance.
In a discussion on the James Allen on F1 Podcast, journalist Jake Boxall-Legge outlined the potential adjustments Hamilton might need to make to adapt to Ferrari’s 2025 car. With his renowned skillset, the Brit will face the challenge of aligning his driving style with the unique characteristics of the Scuderia’s new machine, signaling that a period of adaptation may be on the horizon.
When asked if Lewis Hamilton would primarily be focused on learning procedures and processes during his Ferrari tests before the season starts, Boxall-Legge explained that while that would be part of it, there was more to consider. He pointed out that Hamilton had only ever raced with a Mercedes engine in Formula 1, so the power delivery in the Ferrari would be different. As a result, Lewis Hamilton would need to adjust his throttle input. Jake Boxall-Legge also mentioned that the brakes would feel different and the steering wheel would present its own challenges, though he was interrupted by host James Allen, who noted that there were 25 different buttons for Hamilton to familiarize himself with ahead of the season.
Jake Boxall-Legge went on to compare the adjustment to being a competitive gamer who is used to playing on an Xbox and suddenly has to switch to a PC, highlighting the need to adapt to a new control system. He emphasized that, in addition to the car itself, the seven-time F1 world champion would also need to dial in his relationship with his new team, as Ferrari operates in a very different manner compared to Mercedes.
In 2025, Ferrari faces the challenge of striking a delicate balance between supporting both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. With numerous rookies making their debut on the grid, several teams have already established a clear hierarchy within their driver pairings. For example, Max Verstappen is firmly in charge at Red Bull, Pierre Gasly holds the lead role at Alpine, and Nico Hulkenberg is the designated number-one driver at Sauber.
At Ferrari, however, team principal Frederic Vasseur is not expected to show a clear preference for either Hamilton or Leclerc at the outset. That said, should Ferrari field a car capable of competing for the championship, the French manager will face a challenging decision on how to manage the two drivers. Initially, Ferrari will remain neutral, but with the highly competitive nature of the upcoming season, it is inevitable that tough choices will need to be made as the year unfolds.
The British driver will participate in multiple testing sessions prior to the start of the season, but, as explained by Jake Boxall-Legge, he will need to adapt his driving style to the Ferrari car before the first race in Australia. This adjustment period could give Charles Leclerc the edge, allowing him to gain a slight advantage over his more seasoned teammate as they enter the season's opening round.
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