Former Formula 1 driver Arturo Merzario has revealed that 90 percent of Ferrari’s workforce were against the decision to sign Lewis Hamilton, describing the move as primarily a commercial strategy rather than a sporting one. This significant internal opposition reportedly affected Hamilton’s motivation since he did not feel fully embraced by the Ferrari team after joining in 2025.

Merzario, who made his debut with Ferrari and retains strong connections to the Maranello outfit, explained that Hamilton’s arrival was viewed by many staff as a business-driven operation instead of a purely performance-based signing.

Internal Opposition to Hamilton’s Signing at Ferrari

According to Merzario, most employees within Ferrari did not agree with bringing Hamilton on board. He suggested that this widespread disapproval made it difficult for the seven-time world champion to integrate and feel valued within the team.

In my opinion, Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello was a commercial operation,

Merzario said.

From what I know, 90 per cent of the employees didn’t approve of this decision, and then, when the driver doesn’t feel valued or an integral part of the group, he loses motivation.

Merzario also questioned the incentive for Hamilton to push hard early on, given the challenges in surpassing his Ferrari teammate.

Why go crazy trying to gain three-tenths of a second when you’re not going to get off the third row?

Struggles in Hamilton’s First Season at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s initial season with Ferrari has been challenging, with the 40-year-old currently sitting 42 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ standings. After 14 races, Hamilton has yet to secure a podium finish, a stark contrast to his previous dominant years at Mercedes.

Hamilton himself has openly criticized his performances, describing his 12th-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix as “useless” and suggesting Ferrari should consider changing their driver following the race at the Hungaroring.

Insight Into Hamilton’s Situation from Ferrari’s Leadership

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has admitted that both he and Hamilton underestimated the difficulties of adapting to the new environment at Ferrari. Having spent nearly two decades with Mercedes, Hamilton faced a much more significant cultural shift than expected when moving to the Italian squad.

Lewis and I, we collectively, probably underestimated the change of environment, and the fact that he spent, for me, 20 years in the same team,

Vasseur stated.

McLaren was Mercedes, and then he moved to Mercedes, an English team [based in Brackley], same engine guys, that same culture and so on.

He also highlighted that Hamilton is not accustomed to frequently switching teams, unlike some other drivers who have changed multiple teams in recent years.

He’s not the guy who changed team every two years,

Vasseur said.

You have guys on the grid that, if you have a look on Carlos, for example, he did Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, us and Williams in eight years. He changed four times. He’s used to dealing with this. Lewis was not the case.

Culturally speaking, there is a bigger difference between Ferrari and Mercedes than between Mercedes and McLaren. And this we underestimated.

Possible Future for Hamilton at Ferrari Despite Difficult Start

Despite the current difficulties, Merzario remains optimistic about Hamilton’s potential future success at Ferrari. He believes Hamilton is reserving his full efforts for the right moment, indicating that the situation is far from over.

This isn’t over. He’s waiting for the right opportunity,

Merzario said.

He’s only going to take risks when necessary, not for eighth place.

The ex-driver also asserted Hamilton would quickly find another team if he wanted to leave Ferrari, emphasizing Hamilton’s proven capabilities and status as a champion.

Hamilton has already proven his worth, he’s not in Charles’s position, he has to prove he’s a champion.

Challenges Highlight Broader Issues in Team Dynamics

Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari highlight the challenges of adapting to a new team culture, especially when internal staff sentiment is not fully supportive. The tension between commercial interests and sporting performance appears to play a significant role in shaping Hamilton’s experience at Maranello. As Ferrari looks to regain competitiveness, how they manage internal unity and leverage Hamilton’s expertise will be crucial moving forward.