How long before Hamilton thinks retirement amid Ferrari struggle?
F1 NewsTuesday, 10 June 2025 at 08:30
Lewis Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari are well-documented. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion clearly has not eased into the Maranello way of going just yet, while the problematic SF-25 has not been his friend. When will he start thinking about quitting?
Make no mistake about it, when the stars align and Hamilton has the piece of kit that suits him, he will do the business, as he did winning the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race. But that's as good as it gets. While Charles Leclerc has also not won a Grand Prix this year, he seems more suited to taming the current Ferrari.
F1 stats show that Leclerc has three podiums in nine races, Hamilton zero. The Monegasque has outscored Hamilton by 23 points heading to Round 10 in Canada. The qualifying score is 7–2 in favour of Charles.
Communication issues with the pit wall, grumblings about the car, and the like are common and undisguised from either side during Grand Prix weekends. The kind of soundbites that go viral and launch a trillion memes. Inadvertently or not, Hamilton wears his heart on the red sleeve of his racing suit for all to see.
One of those watching with interest is former Formula 1 driver, turned FIA steward and occasional pundit, Warwick, who told the Plejmo media team: “I don’t know why Lewis Hamilton can’t get going in a Ferrari. I think that's an enigma really. I think we all saw him moving to Ferrari as a great opportunity to win his 8th world title."
What's up with Hamilton at Ferrari?
Warwick explained: “The car is not to his liking at the minute. Most critics will say he’s a seven-times world champion, 105 Grand Prix wins, surely you adapt to the car you've got, because Charles has. But for some reason, he can't get used to it. I think people underestimate, including Lewis, maybe how difficult it is to join a new team.
“How to get used to their systems, their debriefs, getting them to understand what you want and vice versa. And the most important thing on the car is probably the steering wheel because there are so many different adjustments you can do to the steering wheel—maybe he hasn't quite got on top of that.
“Do I want Lewis to win races and challenge for the World Championship? Yes. I think he deserves it. I think he deserves that 8th world title. It’s not going to happen this year, and I think if it carries on the way it is at the minute, I suspect he's already thinking of stopping,” declared Warwick.
No surprise, then, the 'culture shock' Hamilton is going through after over a decade going racing the Mercedes way—clearly very different to the manner in which the Scuderia goes to 'war' on race weekends.
A veteran of the sport, closely involved at the highest level not only professionally but also as a fan, Warwick predicted: “I don't see Hamilton running half a second behind Charles, and also running in 6th, 7th and 8th place. He's had enough of that for the last three years, with Mercedes. So he needs to get a bit of confidence back."
China Sprint Race victory flattered only to deceive
“I thought in China, when he won the Sprint Race, I thought that was the turning point," admitted Warwick. "But the car's still not to his liking. And we can talk about how it’s not to his liking, but I think that the Red Bull car is by far the most difficult car on the grid, and it's only Max that can drive it.
“It's so on the nose, it's oversteering everywhere, which is what Max obviously likes, but anybody that sits in that car just can't drive it the same way. So, the whole team is driven to do what Max wants, which makes it impossible for everybody else,” explained Warwick.
As for how Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur should handle the struggles of Hamilton, Warwick said:
"If I was team boss, I wouldn't change the direction they are going. I'm a little confused why they can't set up the car a bit differently for Yuki [Tsunoda] to be a bit quicker. I think all drivers like to be comfortable in a car.
"If I was team boss, I wouldn't change the direction they are going. I'm a little confused why they can't set up the car a bit differently for Yuki [Tsunoda] to be a bit quicker. I think all drivers like to be comfortable in a car.
“Some of us like understeer, some like oversteer. But in terms of Grand Prix drivers, they are the best in the world. They should be able to accommodate any ill handling of a car," reckoned Warwick, a veteran of a decade in Formula 1 beginning in the early eighties, with 146 Grand Prix starts to his name.
Binotto: Ferrari should have brought him in a few years earlier
Last week, former Ferrari team principal—and soon to be Audi F1 team principal, Mattia Binotto took a swipe at his former team and their superstar: “It’s clear that the performances on track and the results aren’t where they’d like them to be right now. But I know every single member of that team very well, and I know they’re talented, strong, and capable.
“They’ll be able to improve the car and do well in the future. And I believe Ferrari can still enjoy some success this year. Hamilton is a driver of a certain age. Ferrari signed him when he was already nearing the end of his career. Ideally, they should have brought him in a few years earlier," reckoned Binotto.
The Italian was instrumental in developing Leclerc into the role he occupies today as the team's 'chosen one'. History shows, Leclerc's arrival in the main team after his rookie season at Sauber (backed by Ferrari) triggered the downfall of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Could history be repeating itself?
Regarding his benchmark driver of this era, the former Ferrari man Binotto said without hesitation: "In the short term, Max is still the strongest out there. I think everyone would want Verstappen, but I’m happy with our two drivers," added Binotto, whose drivers are podium-less veteran Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
Will Lewis Hamilton win an eighth Formula 1 title with Ferrari?
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