Lewis Hamilton admits that his first season with Ferrari has fallen short of expectations, but he refuses to blame the fans for their frustration. In an interview with Ferrari Magazine, the seven-time world champion said, “Unless you’re inside the team, it’s impossible to grasp how complex this process is.”
After leaving Mercedes in 2025 following twelve seasons and six world titles, Hamilton entered a new chapter with Ferrari. Yet, success has not come easily — he currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings, 64 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, and has yet to score a podium in 20 races. His lone highlight was a Sprint win in Shanghai, offering a glimpse of the old Hamilton’s spark.
“Very few people truly understand Formula 1,” Hamilton said. “From the outside, it’s easy to judge, but inside, everything is far more intricate. I don’t blame the fans for being impatient. My job is to perform, to work closely with the team, and to stay positive every single day.”
The British driver also spoke about the “cultural differences” he’s experienced at Ferrari, drawing parallels to his early career interactions with the late Niki Lauda. “When I joined F1 in 2007, Niki struggled to understand my personality at first. But years later, he told me, ‘You’re a true racer, just like me.’ That meant everything to me.”
Lauda famously convinced Hamilton to join Mercedes in 2013, and the two went on to share a close friendship. “Once we met, all the preconceptions disappeared. We traveled together, went to races together — he was one of the sport’s true legends,” Hamilton said.
Although Hamilton has yet to reach the podium with Ferrari, he remains optimistic about the future. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he concluded. “Ferrari is a massive organization, but once everything clicks, success will follow.”