Hamilton Faces Vettel’s Ferrari Nightmare: Struggles With SF-25 Could Derail His Legacy
Lewis Hamilton’s adjustment to life at Ferrari has been far from smooth, with the veteran driver facing issues that bear a striking resemblance to those experienced by Sebastian Vettel during his time with the Scuderia. Ferrari’s SF-25 car, particularly in race conditions, has proven difficult for Hamilton, especially with rear stability. The team identified this challenge months ago, and while improvements were made ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, they’ve not been enough to fully address the issues plaguing Hamilton’s performance.
This isn’t the only hurdle Hamilton has encountered. The seven-time World Champion, who joined Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season, seems to be struggling with a habit that has carried over from his time at Mercedes. Known for experimenting with car setups during practice sessions, Hamilton has continued this approach at Ferrari, sometimes wasting crucial time in the process. This behavior, which has hampered his performance, has put him at a noticeable disadvantage compared to teammate Charles Leclerc, whose consistency and setup choices have kept him on a better trajectory.
Ferrari insiders, particularly engineer Francesco Cigarini, have drawn comparisons to Vettel’s struggles during his own time with the team. Vettel, a four-time World Champion, also struggled to find a consistent setup that worked for him, leading to a decline in his results. The similarities between Vettel’s and Hamilton’s situations have sparked concern within the team, particularly regarding Hamilton’s position relative to Leclerc and the time lost in trying to make his unique setup work.
The mounting issues for Hamilton have sparked internal concerns at Ferrari, especially considering the potential commercial repercussions of his performance. As the team aims for a second consecutive second-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, their ability to compete at the front week in and week out is critical. While a strong finish in 2024 earned Ferrari a lucrative £99 million in prize money, any further dip in performance could have a long-term impact on the team’s financial health and brand image.
Hamilton, renowned for his resilience and adaptability, will need to quickly overcome these struggles to avoid falling into the same trap that Vettel found himself in. With Ferrari aiming to mount a serious challenge to the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes, Hamilton’s ability to adapt to the team’s car and match Leclerc’s pace will be pivotal for the Scuderia’s future.
