Jock Clear: Lewis Hamilton's Tough Ferrari Start Was 'Reassurring'

Former Ferrari performance engineer Jock Clear says Lewis Hamilton "really had a tough time" during his disappointing first season with the team in 2025. Clear, who has a long-standing relationship with the seven-time champion, argues that Hamilton's struggles were not only expected but also "reassuring" for Formula 1, as they prove the immense challenge of adapting to a new team and prevent the sport from being "demeaned" by an instant title win.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's winless 2025 season, the first of his career, created significant pressure and raised questions about his historic move to Ferrari. Clear's perspective provides crucial context, reframing the struggles not as a sign of decline but as a natural, difficult transition. It manages expectations for a legend and reinforces the idea that success in F1 is a marathon, not a sprint, even for the most decorated driver in history.

The details:

• A "Reassuring" Struggle: Clear stated that if Hamilton had arrived and immediately won an eighth championship, it would have "sort of demeaned or belittled the sport somewhat." He believes the champion's difficulties remind everyone just how hard F1 is.
• Historical Precedent: Clear pointed to two key examples to illustrate his point:
  • Michael Schumacher: It took the legendary German five years to win a championship after joining Ferrari in 1996.
  • Carlos Sainz: Hamilton's predecessor at Ferrari had a slow start at Williams in 2025, failing to score a podium in his first 16 races before finishing the season strongly with two podiums.
• Hamilton's Own Admission: The comments align with Hamilton's own recent social media post, where he described 2025 as a "very draining year" and vowed that "the time for change is now," signaling a personal reset and acknowledgment of the challenges faced.
• The Performance Gap: The struggles were quantified on track, with Hamilton finishing a massive 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured seven podiums in a season where Ferrari failed to win a race for the first time since 2021.

What's next:

All eyes are on the 2026 season as a critical test for both Hamilton and Ferrari. Clear is confident that the seven-time champion will "come back stronger and harder" and will "work on the development and do everything he can do to see the project through." Hamilton's own message of growth and change suggests a driver determined to overcome the initial hurdles and begin his genuine pursuit of a record eighth title with the Scuderia.