After a tough start in Australia, Hamilton and Ferrari face challenges, but experts predict they will soon reclaim their place at the top.
Former Ferrari driver René Arnoux is convinced that Lewis Hamilton and the Scuderia will bounce back after a challenging start to the 2025 season in Australia.
Despite all the preseason hype surrounding his move to Ferrari, the seven-time world champion was outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc throughout the weekend. Yet, both struggled to secure only a handful of points—far from Ferrari’s ambitions.
Arnoux, 76, also noticed the tension between Hamilton and his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
“He has lost some enthusiasm, and I understand. It’s never easy to join a new team and face difficulties right from the first race, especially when McLaren took off like a rocket.”
A Difficult Ferrari, A Risky Bet
Ferrari took a bold step in 2025 with a radical suspension redesign and an overhauled technical concept. However, the team failed to find the right setup in Australia.
“Hamilton and Leclerc were stuck with a car that was extremely difficult to drive. Every time they hit the throttle, it seemed like they were on the edge of losing control.”
It’s frustrating but not alarming. Arnoux believes the competition is tighter than ever and that Ferrari will eventually close the gap.
“We now have three or four teams capable of fighting at the front. Ferrari won’t stay behind for long. The question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘when’ they will be back at the top.”
Hamilton: Still a Title Contender?
Despite the disappointing start, Arnoux refuses to count Hamilton out of the championship fight.
“His frustration is understandable, but adapting to a new team takes time. There are no private tests anymore, apart from two or three days a year. So he arrived in Melbourne without really knowing the car and had to discover it in very tricky conditions.”
Patience will be key. According to Arnoux, it will take four or five races to assess Ferrari’s true potential this season.
“What I did see was an incredibly fast McLaren, which will be hard to beat. But Hamilton is still Hamilton. He’s not done yet.”
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Hamilton & Ferrari: Struggles Now, Comeback Inevitable Hamilton & Ferrari: Struggles Now, Comeback Inevitable
