Lewis Hamilton reflects on a disappointing first season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion struggled with the handling of his SF-25 and only managed to secure a fourth-place finish. According to former driver Jacques Villeneuve, a significant part of the explanation for Hamilton’s difficult start lies in his past with Mercedes. There, he was in a comfortable position for many years, which is now believed to be affecting his performance at Scuderia.
In 2025, Lewis Hamilton lacked podium finishes, ending a streak of no less than eighteen seasons. This is indicative of the year for the 40-year-old Brit, who, all things considered, had a disappointing debut with Ferrari. In the last triple header, he was even eliminated in Q1 three times in a row. According to Villeneuve, this apparent slump is closely related to Hamilton’s illustrious period at Mercedes.
“His (Hamilton’s) years at Mercedes have had a big impact,” Villeneuve said in the High Performance podcast. “During many championships, he mainly had to compete against his teammate and there wasn’t really a fight. Only Nico (Rosberg) really challenged him, and he lost that battle,” he referred to the 2016 championship. “Now he’s at Ferrari and he has to rediscover his fighting spirit. It seems like he’s gotten used to the easy years at Mercedes.”
Verstappen Makes the Difference
Villeneuve made a comparison with Max Verstappen, pointing out the difference in mentality between the two drivers, even during periods of dominance. “It’s difficult to get the engine going again once you’ve eased off the throttle, taken it easy, or thought it was easy,” the Canadian continued. “As soon as you start to believe you’re invincible, you ease off; and that’s where Max makes the difference.”
According to Villeneuve, Verstappen always drives on the edge. “Even in a season where Red Bull wins every race with ease, he gives it his all as if it’s the last race of the championship and he’s behind in points,” explained the former champion. “When it then really gets tough and he has to fight, he’s used to it. I think that’s the big difference compared to Lewis Hamilton’s process,” Villeneuve concluded.
