Ted Kravitz Questions Hamilton's Ferrari Approach After Disappointing Season

Ted Kravitz has highlighted a fundamental miscalculation in Lewis Hamilton's approach to his debut season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion reportedly believed he could seamlessly transplant his decade of Mercedes expertise to Maranello, a strategy that ultimately faltered in a deeply disappointing campaign with no podium finishes.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's blockbuster move to Ferrari was billed as a final, glorious chapter for one of F1's greatest drivers. The immediate failure of this approach not only questions the driver's ability to overhaul a team's culture but also puts immense pressure on both Hamilton and Ferrari's leadership. The partnership's success now hinges on a complete reset for the 2026 regulations, making the upcoming winter a critical period for the Scuderia's most high-profile signing in a generation.

The details:

• The Mercedes Method: Hamilton's core assumption was that he could import his winning formula from Mercedes, making only minor adjustments to transform Ferrari into consistent winners. Kravitz noted Hamilton thought he could bring his expertise from Mercedes and McLaren and "change just a few things to bring Ferrari back into the winner’s circle."
• Shifting Support: The driver initially believed he had the unwavering backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and team principal Fred Vasseur. However, this perception reportedly shifted after comments made by Elkann in late September or October, causing Hamilton to re-evaluate his standing within the team.
• Motivation for the Move: The decision to leave Mercedes was driven significantly by the security of a longer-term contract and the promise of race-winning potential, neither of which materialized in his first season.
• On-Track Struggles: Hamilton's difficult season was defined by his failure to secure a single top-three finish, culminating in a late-season slump where he was eliminated in the first segment of qualifying for the final three races.

What's next:

Despite the challenges, Kravitz believes Hamilton will remain with Ferrari and shift his focus entirely toward the 2026 season. The driver now heads into the winter hoping for improvements to the car and team structure, with his original goal of matching or surpassing Charles Leclerc's performance still unmet. The 2026 campaign, under new technical regulations, is now seen as the realistic target for Hamilton to achieve success at Maranello.