Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in 2025 has been marked by significant difficulties. After 12 races, the seven-time world champion has only clinched one sprint race win in China and has yet to secure a podium or a main race victory. At 40 years old, Hamilton appears to be shifting his focus away from this season’s results toward the upcoming 2026 regulations, aiming to rebuild his competitiveness with Ferrari.
Despite these struggles, James Vowles, the Williams Team Principal and former teammate of Hamilton, remains confident about the British driver’s ability to recover and return to winning form.
Vowles Explains What Hamilton Needs to Regain His Edge
James Vowles explained that Hamilton requires specific elements from his car to feel comfortable and confident on the track. Currently, Hamilton has not yet found that perfect balance at Ferrari, which has contributed to his lackluster performance. Yet, Vowles emphasized his strong belief that once Hamilton obtains the right feel from the car, he will quickly regain the pace needed to consistently challenge for race wins.
“Lewis has some elements he needs from a car to feel strength from it, and then it’s a confidence build from him he is able to generate from then onwards, And I can see it in what’s going on. He hasn’t quite got that yet. But I have zero doubt that he will be on the pace and there.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
Comparing Hamilton’s Performance to Teammate Charles Leclerc
Although Hamilton’s individual results may not seem strong, Vowles pointed out that the gap between Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc is relatively narrow, with only 13 points separating the two drivers. The Williams principal noted several occasions where Hamilton’s confidence allowed him to closely match Leclerc’s performance on the grid.
“You can see at times where he is confident, he and Charles are like this [close].” —James Vowles
Inconsistency Prevents Hamilton from Contending Regularly
Hamilton joined Ferrari with expectations of contesting for the championship, but midway through the 2025 season, the reality has been far from those hopes. Securing podium finishes has been a struggle, and Hamilton needs considerable improvements to outpace Leclerc consistently. Vowles described Hamilton’s current form as inconsistent, pointing to races like the Miami Grand Prix where the Briton pushed hard but ultimately fell short.
“Miami is a good example. He was pushing Charles ahead of him. He’s just not consistently there, weekend on weekend.” —James Vowles
At Miami, Hamilton showed moments of determination, aggressively challenging Leclerc, but frustration over Ferrari’s strategic decisions was evident during the post-race radio exchanges. Still, Vowles stressed that this inconsistency is the primary hurdle preventing Hamilton from mounting a stronger title challenge this season.
What Ferrari’s 2025 Season Means for Hamilton’s Future
Ferrari’s overall performance this season has fallen short of expectations, and while Lewis Hamilton is making the most of the opportunities presented, mounting a serious fight for the 2025 drivers’ championship appears unlikely at this point. Nevertheless, Hamilton remains committed to giving his best effort throughout the second half of the season as he aims to improve his standings.
James Vowles’ perspective highlights the raw reality of Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari — a process that is proving difficult but far from hopeless. The 40-year-old’s experience and resilience give many in Formula 1 reason to believe that his struggles in 2025 could eventually give way to renewed success, especially with the rule changes on the horizon in 2026.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Lewis Hamilton, an F1 race car driver, openly shares his passion for veganism. He also invests in plant-based businesses.