We have to be sincere: Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 season — and Ferrari’s — has began very in another way from the expectations that have been set. Expectations that, it have to be famous, have been definitely inflated by the press, however solely to a sure extent.
Ferrari, one thing very completely different was anticipated Frankly, it’s inconceivable to overlook Charles Leclerc’s phrases earlier than the season started: “I’d be dissatisfied if we don’t win at the very least one world title [drivers’ or constructors’, editor’s note].”
These statements have been merely reported by journalists, not fabricated. Which means at Maranello, they anticipated far more from the primary 5 races.
Nobody anticipated the efficiency hole with McLaren. Nobody anticipated to be in fourth place within the Constructors’ Championship. Nobody anticipated to see Ferrari’s high driver 52 factors behind the championship chief.
To Ferrari’s common struggles, Lewis Hamilton ’s evident lack of competitiveness (excluding the Dash Race weekend in China) has additionally been added.
The seven-time world champion has been considerably crushed by Charles Leclerc in each race this 12 months, typically with huge gaps: 13 seconds in Japan and over 30 seconds in Saudi Arabia, for instance.
Why is Hamilton struggling a lot? Turrini’s three hypotheses
On his weblog “Profondo Rosso,” Leo Turrini tried to search out explanations for this example. Right here’s what he mentioned: “One factor have to be acknowledged instantly about Lewis Hamilton, naturally with a touch of unhealthy cynicism: with the doubts fueled by his performances, he has vaguely diverted consideration from the true catastrophe: the SF-25.
“We’re speaking a couple of Ferrari that has achieved only one podium in 5 Grands Prix, on very various kinds of tracks. Nothing prevents us from hoping for a comeback by developments. However to this point, the steadiness is disastrous. Everybody in Maranello admits it. And it’s ridiculous to level out that ‘with Binotto’… Come on, have some dignity.
“Speculation one, which I refuse to consider: Lewis is completed, the final three years at Mercedes drained him, he thought he may revive himself by altering surroundings however merely has nothing left. It occurs, it occurred to many drivers prior to now. I don’t consider it, we’re speaking about somebody who received at Silverstone only a few months in the past. But when it have been so, the earlier he quits, the higher.
“Speculation two: it’s only a matter of time. Ferrari is a very completely different world in comparison with Mercedes, however Hamilton has the maturity to grasp what he must do to hurry up the variation course of. So, persistence.
“Speculation three: in fact, Hamilton has nothing to do with it. All of it depends upon a automobile that may be a flop. Charles Leclerc, because the specialists say, manages to ‘drive above’ the automobile’s limits, whereas for a newcomer at Maranello, the duty is far harder.
“Personally, I consider the reality lies midway between speculation two and speculation three. Which, nevertheless, doesn’t encourage a lot optimism. Save Personal Hamilton, okay. However from whom? From himself? From Ferrari? We are going to solely discover out by dwelling,” Leo Turrini concluded.