Lewis Hamilton’s Optimism After Miami GP Surprises Danica Patrick as Ferrari Face Rising Pains in 2025 Season
After six rounds of the 2025 Method 1 season, Lewis Hamilton could also be beginning to query what’s occurring behind the scenes at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. Regardless of excessive hopes following his high-profile change from Mercedes, the Scuderia’s efficiency has failed to satisfy expectations, leaving many questioning if inside points are holding the staff again.
On the finish of the 2024 marketing campaign, Ferrari seemed to be on the point of a serious breakthrough. Underneath staff principal Fred Vasseur’s steering, Charles Leclerc had been steadily climbing the drivers’ standings, and the staff narrowly missed out on securing its first championship title since 2008. Hamilton’s arrival solely added to the Tifosi’s pleasure, fueling anticipation that Ferrari may lastly return to the highest. However actuality set in shortly after a disappointing season opener, and outcomes have remained underwhelming since.
Throughout the Miami Grand Prix, Martin Brundle voiced his criticism of Ferrari’s in-race communication, notably concerning radio messages directed on the British driver. The seven-time world champion discovered himself locked in a irritating on-track battle with teammate Charles Leclerc over P7 and P8, and followers had been fast to specific their dissatisfaction with the staff’s lack of readability and decisiveness. Though the state of affairs didn’t lead to a direct lack of factors, the inefficiency underscored Ferrari’s present struggles—struggles they can not afford to miss.
Regardless of the stress on monitor, Hamilton struck a notably upbeat tone in his post-race interviews—an perspective that caught the eye of Sky Sports activities F1 analysts Danica Patrick and Jenson Button. His optimistic remarks stood out, particularly after one other powerful weekend for Ferrari, and urged a stage of composure that stunned each pundits.
Patrick famous that Lewis Hamilton was the final driver to emerge for media duties, implying that he had taken considerably extra time than others earlier than chatting with journalists. She noticed that his demeanor was unusually calm and composed, even smiling, one thing she hadn’t seen shortly. Patrick remarked that it was the primary time she had heard Lewis Hamilton communicate as if Ferrari had recognized their core points—a constructive signal, in her view. She additionally drew a comparability to McLaren’s turnaround the earlier yr, when Zak Brown promised enhancements by mid-season—and delivered. Nonetheless, Patrick was fast so as to add that Ferrari should nonetheless tackle lingering issues with race technique and inside communication, calling for extra cohesion and readability going ahead. She concluded that, whereas it stays a difficult state of affairs, that is Method 1, the place fixed adaptation is the norm.
Button echoed Patrick’s sentiments, emphasizing that Hamilton’s composure prolonged past staff radios to his interviews, the place he appeared extra balanced and picked up than others inside Ferrari. He praised Hamilton for presenting himself so effectively, particularly in distinction to the staff’s obvious disarray.
Lewis Hamilton’s constructive feedback could function a brief balm over Ferrari’s deeper structural points, however they don’t change the truth that important progress is required forward of their subsequent race—Ferrari’s first house Grand Prix of the season in Imola in two weeks’ time.
One main concern is a suspected aerodynamic flaw affecting the SF-25’s one-lap tempo. This was evident in Miami, the place Hamilton did not advance previous Q2 whereas Leclerc barely made it into Q3. Moreover, Ferrari’s hesitation throughout the Grand Prix—taking too lengthy to determine whether or not to swap positions between Hamilton and Leclerc—raised additional doubts about operational sharpness.
Lewis Hamilton had proven strategic consciousness throughout the Dash Race, the place he secured third place by reacting shortly to tire degradation. Nonetheless, Ferrari lagged behind in figuring out the problem, regardless of having full entry to real-time information, highlighting an ongoing disconnect between driver instincts and pit wall choices.
Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari, after over a decade with Mercedes, continues to be a focus of the season. Whereas his calm and optimistic tone post-Miami could recommend he’s settling in, the onus is now on Ferrari to ship a automobile and technique that match his ambitions. After one other troublesome weekend, the staff should urgently give attention to optimizing efficiency and cohesion as they head right into a important European stretch of the calendar.