Brundle: Hamilton Needed Key Mercedes Personnel at Ferrari for Schumacher-like Success

Martin Brundle suggests Lewis Hamilton's current struggles at Ferrari stem from not bringing his long-standing Mercedes team members with him, a move that could have mirrored Michael Schumacher's successful overhaul of the Maranello outfit. Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season after 12 years and six titles with Mercedes, has found adaptation challenging, failing to secure a Grand Prix podium this year.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's highly anticipated move to Ferrari aimed to replicate Michael Schumacher's legendary success, where Schumacher, alongside key personnel like Ross Brawn and Jean Todt, transformed the Scuderia into a championship-winning force. Brundle's comments highlight the critical role of established team dynamics and personal support in adapting to a new environment, especially in high-stakes Formula 1. The absence of familiar faces like his race engineer Peter Bonnington ('Bono') could be a significant factor in Hamilton's initial struggles, impacting his ability to quickly integrate and perform at his peak in a drastically different cultural and operational setting.

The details:

• Difficult Adaptation: Martin Brundle noted that Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has been "more difficult than Lewis hoped or thought it would be." Despite a sprint race win in China, his best Grand Prix finish remains fourth.
• Schumacher's Blueprint: Brundle emphasized that Michael Schumacher's success at Ferrari was built on bringing a core team (Ross Brawn, Jean Todt, Stefano Domenicali) with him, which still took years to yield championships.
• Importance of Familiar Faces: Brundle believes Hamilton "needed more people around him," specifically mentioning his long-time Mercedes race engineer, Peter Bonnington (Bono).
• Deep Embedding at Mercedes: Hamilton's 12-year tenure at Mercedes meant he was deeply integrated into their infrastructure and daily routines, which he likely took for granted.
• Cultural Shift: Three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick highlighted the "huge adaptation" required due to the cultural differences at Ferrari, suggesting this has prevented Hamilton from fully gelling with the team this season.

Looking Ahead:

While Hamilton's initial Ferrari stint has been challenging, the underlying belief among pundits like Chadwick is that his talent remains undiminished. If Ferrari can provide him with competitive machinery and he continues to adapt to the new environment, a