Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated switch to Ferrari has been met with thunderous fanfare and sky-high expectations, but the reality for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion has proven far more complicated than anyone predicted. Fred Vasseur, team principal at Ferrari, has openly discussed why the 40-year-old Briton is struggling to find his rhythm with the Scuderia, drawing comparisons with Carlos Sainz’s career trajectory that reveal some hard truths about life in Maranello.

When Hamilton arrived at Ferrari during the off-season, the atmosphere was electric. Thousands of Tifosi flooded the streets of Maranello and the Fiorano test track to witness the moment Hamilton first strapped into his SF25 race car. There was palpable excitement, a sense of history in the making, and a collective belief that the addition of a driver of Hamilton’s caliber would guarantee immediate success.

Yet, as the 2025 season unfolds with 10 races still to go, Hamilton finds himself sitting sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, 42 points adrift of his teammate Charles Leclerc. Critically, the seven-time champion has yet to secure his first podium finish with Ferrari, while Leclerc has already reached the top three in five races this year. The contrast has sparked a media frenzy, with pundits and fans alike questioning whether Hamilton’s move to the Scuderia was overly ambitious—or “naive,” as Vasseur bluntly describes.

“It’s often the circumstances, and Lewis has been unlucky a lot recently,” Vasseur explained in a revealing interview with Auto Motor und Sport. “In Budapest, he was ahead of Charles in Q1 and only a tenth slower in Q2. He was 15 thousandths of a second short of advancing. In the end, one finished first and the other twelfth. That looks stupid, of course. But we weren’t far off, and we would have finished eleventh and twelfth with our two drivers.”

Vasseur’s comments shine a light on the unseen challenges Hamilton faces: adapting to a team environment that is fundamentally different from the one he called home for 18 years. From McLaren to Mercedes, Hamilton’s career was built on stability. English-speaking teams, consistent engineering approaches, and a known culture allowed him to optimize his performance. At Ferrari, everything is new: the language, the workflows, the internal dynamics, and the culture of relentless scrutiny from one of the most passionate fan bases in sports.

“Looking back, I have to admit that we—Lewis and I—underestimated the change to a different environment,” Vasseur added. “He had been with the same team for 18 years before that, if I can call McLaren and Mercedes our home. It was an English team, and the engine environment always remained the same.”

Hamilton’s struggles have been compared to Carlos Sainz, who spent years carving out a steady, unassuming path in Formula 1. Sainz, unlike Hamilton, gradually adapted to team changes and only reached his first multi-win season in 2024. Vasseur suggests that Hamilton’s immediate jump to Ferrari, coupled with the weight of expectation, makes the learning curve steeper. While Sainz could acclimate over time, Hamilton is under constant global scrutiny, leaving little room for error.

“It’s not just about driving,” Vasseur explained. “It’s about understanding how Ferrari operates, how the engineers think, how the strategy unfolds. Lewis is exceptional, but the circumstances now are unlike anything he’s faced before.”

Observers have noted that Hamilton’s adaptation period isn’t merely a professional challenge—it’s psychological. The pressure of performing in front of the world’s most passionate Ferrari fans, combined with a deeply analytical team that thrives on precision, can magnify even minor mistakes. Each race becomes a high-stakes test, and each misstep is scrutinized, analyzed, and compared to teammates and historical performance.

Despite the setbacks, Vasseur maintains faith in Hamilton’s potential to excel. “We’re working on it. We know Lewis’s talent is undeniable. Once he settles in, understands the team, and adapts to the unique Ferrari environment, he will perform at the level we all expect. But it’s not instant; it never is with such a transition.”

Hamilton himself has remained stoic amid the media pressure, focusing on mastering the car and learning the nuances of Ferrari’s operational structure. Yet fans and pundits are aware that patience is a luxury few in Formula 1 afford, particularly when a driver of Hamilton’s reputation is involved. Expectations are sky-high, and every race becomes a proving ground, not only for Hamilton’s abilities but also for the future of his Ferrari tenure.

The season continues, and as Hamilton searches for his first podium in red, the world watches with bated breath. Every qualifying lap, pit stop, and overtaking maneuver is under scrutiny. And while comparisons to Sainz highlight the difficulties Hamilton faces, they also underscore the sheer audacity of his move: to leave comfort and familiarity behind and embrace a team that represents one of the most storied—and demanding—traditions in motorsport history.

For now, Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter is a test of patience, adaptability, and resilience. Success is not guaranteed, but if anyone can rise to the occasion, it is a seven-time world champion who has repeatedly defied expectations.