
David Coulthard: Lewis Hamilton Still Reeling From Ferrari Growing Pains
Hamilton’s Ferrari Dream Facing Early Turbulence, Says Former F1 Star
When Lewis Hamilton shocked the motorsport world by announcing a switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season, it was billed as the most romantic move in modern Formula 1—a seven-time world champion chasing his childhood dream to wear scarlet red and bring glory back to Maranello. But less than halfway through his debut campaign with the Scuderia, reality has proven far bumpier than expected.
Hamilton has struggled to make his mark in the opening rounds of the season, with a string of underwhelming performances in Grands Prix that have left fans and pundits questioning whether this bold new chapter will yield the fairytale ending he envisioned. And former F1 race winner turned commentator David Coulthard believes the legendary Briton is still reeling from the sheer scale of the challenge he’s taken on.
Spanish GP Adds to Hamilton’s Frustration
The latest sting came in Barcelona, where Hamilton once again found himself on the back foot. Despite outqualifying teammate Charles Leclerc—a small but notable win—his pace fell away early in the race, prompting Ferrari to issue a team order for him to let Leclerc through.
Afterwards, Hamilton didn’t hold back in describing the SF-25’s instability as “the worst experience” he’s had behind the wheel in years. It was an uncharacteristically sharp outburst from a driver renowned for his calm, considered assessments, and one that revealed just how jarring this transition period has been.
“Whether Lewis wants it or not, the team has to put the car that is quick forward in the current situation,” Coulthard explained on Channel 4. “In this particular race, Lewis was not able to find the pace at the start.”
And that, Coulthard suggested, is a hard pill to swallow for a driver who’s spent over a decade as the de facto number one at Mercedes—a team he helped transform into one of the most dominant forces in F1 history.
A Bit of Light in the Struggle
While Hamilton’s race in Spain was another difficult outing on paper, Coulthard was quick to point out that there were glimmers of progress buried within the struggle.
“There was a section in the middle of the Grand Prix where Lewis was actually on the same pace as Charles,” he said. “And he seemed to be making a bit of peace with his car.”
Those moments, fleeting as they might have been, offer hope that Hamilton’s bond with the Ferrari chassis is slowly beginning to develop. But it’s also clear that the adjustment process has been more punishing than anyone—Hamilton included—had anticipated.
“At the moment, he seems to be in a bit of a daze because of the adaptation problems he’s had,” Coulthard added.
A Different World from Mercedes
One of the biggest factors in Hamilton’s tricky start is the cultural and operational shift he’s experiencing. At Mercedes, Hamilton was part of the furniture. The team was built around his feedback, and his connection with engineers like Pete Bonnington became legendary for its precision and trust.
At Ferrari, things are different. The team operates in a more traditional, sometimes more rigid structure. Communication styles are different. Processes are different. Even the car’s balance and driving characteristics present a learning curve.
Hamilton, for all his experience, is still a newcomer here. And as Coulthard alluded to, that means he doesn’t automatically command the same strategic priority he enjoyed at Brackley.
At this stage of the season, it’s Leclerc who has adapted quicker. And Ferrari—still chasing its first title since 2008—can’t afford sentimentality. The faster driver gets the preferential treatment. That’s racing.
Sprint Encouragement, Sunday Disappointment
Interestingly, Hamilton has shown flashes of competitiveness in this season’s sprint races, where the shorter format appears to be suiting his driving style and allowing him to extract the best from the car over one-lap bursts and short stints.
But those bright spots haven’t translated to Sunday success. Across the nine Grands Prix so far, Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium. In fact, he’s only managed to finish ahead of Leclerc in one full race weekend—a far cry from the dominant days of Mercedes, where top-three finishes were the minimum expectation.
Still, Hamilton isn’t panicking. Publicly, he remains optimistic, reminding fans and journalists that transitions take time. Privately, though, there’s no question that the competitor in him is desperate to turn things around—and soon.
Coulthard’s Verdict: Time Will Tell
For Coulthard, who made a mid-career switch of his own from McLaren to Red Bull back in the 2000s, Hamilton’s experience is not unfamiliar. Adjusting to a new team can often be more mentally draining than physically challenging.
“I don’t think anyone, including Lewis himself, thought it would be this difficult,” Coulthard said. “But he’s not a rookie. He knows what it takes. If anyone can weather a storm and find a way to make it work, it’s him.”
Still, Coulthard hinted that Ferrari, and Hamilton, must start seeing tangible results sooner rather than later. The honeymoon period is coming to an end, and questions are beginning to build—not just about Hamilton’s performance, but about the decision to leave Mercedes in the first place.
What Comes Next?
The good news for Hamilton is that there’s plenty of the season left. With Ferrari expected to bring incremental updates over the next few races, there’s potential for him to claw his way back into contention and begin showing the kind of form fans have come to expect.
But for that to happen, Hamilton will need more than just a better car. He’ll need full confidence in the machinery, a settled rhythm within the team, and the kind of on-track fortune that has occasionally deserted him in this new era.
Ferrari fans still believe in the dream. Hamilton still believes, too. But right now, as David Coulthard rightly observes, the seven-time world champion is caught in the fog of adjustment—reeling, but not yet broken.
The question is: how long will the fog last? And when it lifts, what kind of Lewis Hamilton will we see?
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment!