Ted Kravitz: Hamilton's Qualifying Performance is the 'Only Thing' to Address for Ferrari Success

Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz has pinpointed qualifying performance as the singular, crucial area Lewis Hamilton must improve to ensure his move to Ferrari is a success. The seven-time champion has struggled relative to teammate Charles Leclerc in one-lap pace this season, and Kravitz suggests that if this deficit continues into 2026, his tenure at Maranello could be short-lived.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's high-profile switch to Ferrari is one of the biggest stories in modern F1, carrying immense pressure for immediate results. His ability to adapt his driving style to the ground-effect cars and extract maximum performance over a single lap will be the primary indicator of whether this partnership can challenge for a championship. If he cannot solve this puzzle, the dream move risks becoming a brief, underwhelming chapter.

The details:

• Kravitz's analysis centers on Hamilton's clear lag behind Charles Leclerc in qualifying throughout the 2025 season, particularly in the high-pressure Q3 sessions.
• The reporter framed the rest of Hamilton's integration—such as whether Ferrari listens to his technical and operational feedback—as secondary, stating the core issue is purely his one-lap speed with the current car generation.
• A Stern Warning: Kravitz offered a stark prediction, suggesting that if the qualifying struggles persist into the 2026 season, Hamilton may simply "see out his contract at Ferrari for one more year," implying an early and unsuccessful end to the partnership.
• The Engineer Parallel: The commentary references Hamilton's earlier, well-publicized move of sending the team detailed documents suggesting changes, a tactic compared to Sebastian Vettel's approach during his own Ferrari stint. While aimed at opening dialogue, it underscores the fine line a driver walks between providing feedback and overstepping into engineering territory.

The big picture:

Hamilton's challenge is twofold: mastering the specific demands of the current aerodynamic regulations and tyres, and integrating into a team with its own established culture and star driver. His ultimate success hinges less on his ability to suggest changes and more on his capacity to deliver undeniable speed on Saturday afternoons. The 2026 season, with new regulations, presents both a clean slate and a final test.

What's next:

All eyes will be on pre-season testing and the opening qualifying sessions of 2026. Hamilton's lap times relative to Leclerc will be the most scrutinized data in the paddock, providing the first real answer to whether he has addressed the one deficit identified as critical to his Ferrari future.