Hamilton Sets Historic Record with First Podium-Less Season Since 2007

Lewis Hamilton has finished the 2025 Formula 1 season without a single podium for the first time since his debut in 2007, setting a new and unwanted historical record in his first year with Ferrari. No driver has ever scored so many championship points in a season without finishing in the top three at least once, surpassing the previous mark held by Felipe Massa since 2011.

Why it matters:

For a driver of Hamilton's caliber—a seven-time world champion—a full season without a podium is a stark anomaly that underscores the profound struggles faced by Ferrari in 2025. This record highlights not just a personal low for Hamilton but also the competitive deficit of the team he joined with immense expectations, marking a significant moment in the sport's history.

The details:

• The 2025 season was a collective low point for Ferrari, which failed to win a race for the first time in years, fell out of title contention early, and finished a distant fourth in the constructors' championship.
• Team Principal Fred Vasseur openly described it as a "difficult season," acknowledging the car's overall package was not competitive enough from the start, with setbacks like a disqualification in China compounding their problems.
• While teammate Charles Leclerc secured all seven of Ferrari's podium finishes, Hamilton remained unlucky despite his efforts. This puts him on track for another potential unwanted record: if he secures a podium for Ferrari in the future, he will become the driver who took the longest to achieve a top-three finish with the Scuderia.

The big picture:

Mentally, the grueling season has taken its toll. After the finale in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton spoke openly about exhaustion and a desire to completely shut off from the world. Former teammate Nico Rosberg observes Hamilton is in a bind: he can hardly retire after just starting this major project with Ferrari, yet time is increasingly becoming a factor as he approaches his 41st birthday in January.

What's next:

Ferrari is already working on adjustments for 2026, including a simplified steering wheel philosophy intended to better suit the seven-time champion. More broadly, the introduction of a new technical regulation will completely reshuffle the competitive deck, offering Hamilton and Ferrari a crucial reset and their best chance to reverse this historic downturn.

summary: Lewis Hamilton ends the 2025 F1 season without a podium for the first time since 2007, setting a historic record for most points scored in a season without a top-three finish. The struggle highlights a difficult debut year with Ferrari, which failed to win a race and finished fourth in the standings.