As Ferrari continues to face challenges during the 2025 Formula 1 season, pressure is mounting on the team to give greater weight to Lewis Hamilton’s insights. This call comes amid a difficult start that showed no improvement during the British Grand Prix, with Hamilton’s feedback seen as crucial for Ferrari’s progress.

Recent discussions within the F1 community highlight Hamilton’s strong support network, especially from Jock Clear, his former performance engineer at Mercedes who now works with Ferrari. Clear’s experience making the most of Hamilton’s input is driving calls for Ferrari to listen more carefully to their seven-time world champion driver as they strive to overcome technical issues and boost performance.

Jock Clear’s Crucial Support for Hamilton’s Input

On the Sky Sports F1 podcast, presenter Simon Lazenby emphasized the importance of Jock Clear’s role in championing Hamilton’s feedback. Clear collaborated with Hamilton both at Mercedes and Ferrari, helping to optimize the driver’s performance through detailed technical support.

I spoke to Jock Clear, and Jock Clear has worked with Lewis with both, he’s worked with him at Mercedes and he’s worked with him at Ferrari,

Lazenby said.

There’s a reason he’s won seven world championships. His feedback is amazing.

Clear is reportedly one of Hamilton’s strongest advocates within Ferrari, continuously urging the team to value Hamilton’s detailed observations and recommendations, which are seen as critical for improving car performance during this challenging season.

Experienced Voices Call for Focus on Hamilton’s Feedback Over Leclerc’s

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has expressed that Ferrari should shift their focus toward Hamilton’s racing insights rather than placing greater trust in Charles Leclerc’s feedback. Hill points out the complexity of adapting to a new team after many years, highlighting the learning curve Hamilton faces having left Mercedes after 11 seasons.

There’s so much to learn about a new team,

Hill observed. He added that a driver must understand the team’s personnel, communication styles, and other subtleties, indicating Hamilton’s adjustment period at Ferrari is substantial.

Hill also noted the advantage Hamilton has over Leclerc in handling transitions, saying,

That’s the problem. Going from one team to another, it takes a few years.

He suggested Ferrari is more likely to benefit from Hamilton’s input during this developmental phase, while Leclerc, who has remained with Ferrari, has yet to experience such a shift.

Technical Challenges and the Importance of Timely Upgrades

David Croft, a commentator on Sky Sports F1, echoed the sentiment that Ferrari must listen to Hamilton to justify their significant investment in the driver. Ferrari’s car has struggled with technical setbacks, specifically related to the rear damper system affected by structural changes around the cockpit that have limited space and compromised performance since the start of the season.

Ferrari plans only one major upgrade at the upcoming Spa race, with no further developments expected for the remainder of the year. This makes it critical that they address current issues swiftly to maximize competitiveness.

If that redesign and the floor is working, then we’ll see, if they get the set up and the strategy right, some better performances in the second half [of the season].

The success of this upgrade and Hamilton’s detailed input could be decisive in enabling Ferrari to improve their setup and race outcomes in the upcoming races.

Implications for Ferrari’s 2025 Season Strategy

Ferrari’s ability to acknowledge and implement Lewis Hamilton’s feedback could be a key determinant of their success as the 2025 season progresses. With Hamilton navigating his first year outside Mercedes, combining his experience with the team’s technical adjustments may provide the edge Ferrari needs to rebound from a disappointing first half.

As Hamilton’s ally Jock Clear continues to champion his insights, Ferrari faces growing expectations not only to resolve current car issues but also to harness the expertise of their world champion driver. How the team responds could influence championship battles and define new dynamics within Ferrari moving forward.