Hamilton: Ferrari ‘Not At All What I Expected’

Lewis Hamilton has admitted his switch to Ferrari this season has thrown up surprises he never anticipated, though he’s quick to stress the positives amid a challenging year.

Speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion reflected on his move from Mercedes, where he spent over a decade, to the iconic Italian squad. “It’s not at all what I expected,” Hamilton said, “but in a good way. The passion from the fans, the intensity inside the team—it’s on another level.”

Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has been a mixed bag so far. After a strong start with podiums in Australia and Bahrain, the team has grappled with pace issues, leaving Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc fighting for scraps in recent races. Hamilton’s best result remains a third in Monaco, but he’s yet to claim a win, sitting fifth in the standings behind Max Verstappen, who leads for Red Bull.

The Briton, now 40, highlighted the cultural shift as a key eye-opener. “At Mercedes, it was all about precision and process. Here, it’s raw emotion mixed with that same drive to win. I’ve had to adapt fast, and it’s reignited something in me.”

Team principal Fred Vasseur echoed the sentiment, noting Hamilton’s input has already influenced setup tweaks for the SF-25 car. “Lewis brings experience we needed. He’s pushing us harder, especially with 2026 rules looming.”

Despite frustrations, like a tough outing in Belgium where he recovered to seventh after a poor qualifying, Hamilton remains optimistic. “We’re not where we want to be, but the foundation is there. This is about building for the long haul.”

With the season past its midpoint, Ferrari sits third in the constructors’ battle, trailing Red Bull and McLaren. Hamilton’s focus now turns to extracting more from the car in Budapest, where he holds a record eight wins from his Mercedes days.