Lewis Hamilton Has 'So Many Notes' for Ferrari, Sees No Reason They Can't Improve
Lewis Hamilton has accumulated a comprehensive list of improvements for Ferrari after a challenging 2025 F1 season, which saw the team cemented in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. Despite the struggles, Hamilton is optimistic, stating there's "no reason" Ferrari can't address the issues and make significant progress. His insights could be crucial for the team's future as they look to rebound from a winless year.
Lewis Hamilton's challenging first season with Ferrari culminates with the team solidifying its fourth-place standing in the Constructors' Championship. Despite a winless streak and recent struggles, Hamilton remains "hopeful" for future progress, armed with extensive notes he believes Ferrari can act upon to turn their fortunes around.
Why it matters:
After a season that fell far short of title ambitions, Ferrari's ability to leverage Hamilton's feedback will be critical for its competitiveness. As one of F1's most experienced and decorated drivers, Hamilton's insights could provide the blueprint for Ferrari to address its car's shortcomings and return to the front of the grid, a position their heritage demands.
The Details:
- With only one race left in the 2025 season, Ferrari is set to finish without a single victory.
- Recent performance has been particularly frustrating, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc scoring a mere 20 points combined over the last three rounds.
- This ensures Ferrari will finish fourth in the Constructors' standings, a significant disappointment for the storied team.
- Hamilton's Struggles: The British driver has faced considerable difficulties, including qualifying last in Las Vegas and experiencing a double Q1 elimination during the Qatar Sprint and Grand Prix weekends.
- He finished the Qatar Grand Prix in twelfth, candidly describing it as "the most challenging year both in and out of the car."
- Extensive Feedback: Hamilton revealed he has "so many notes in terms of things we need to improve on."
- He stated, "There’s literally no reason why we couldn’t fix those if we just put those into action. I’m hopeful for us making progress."
- Underdevelopment Concerns: Hamilton highlighted Ferrari's current state of development, noting, "I think it really highlighted just how developed everybody else is and how undeveloped we are at this point of the year."
- He pointed out the pace difference, saying he "was nearly getting overtaken by the Stake car and I couldn’t keep up with the Williams. And the Williams came third."
The Big Picture:
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has previously indicated that the team shifted its development focus to the new 2026 regulations as early as April. While this long-term strategy is understandable, it has clearly impacted their current season's performance. The stark contrast between Ferrari's struggles and the successes of other teams like Williams, who achieved a podium in Qatar, underscores the depth of the challenge facing the Scuderia.
What's next:
Hamilton heads to the final race in Abu Dhabi in P6 in the Drivers' Championship, with Kimi Antonelli, his successor at Mercedes, just two points behind. The immediate future will see if Ferrari can translate Hamilton's detailed observations into tangible improvements for the next season. The true test will be how effectively they can integrate his feedback into their 2026 car concept, aiming for a significant leap in performance and reliability to return to championship contention.