Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles not due to technical issues, says ex-McLaren director

Lewis Hamilton is going through a real crisis at Ferrari. While Charles Leclerc seems to have found his rhythm, managing at least to collect two consecutive podiums, his new teammate is still struggling a lot.

After taking pole and winning the Sprint Race in China, the seven-time world champion hasn’t been able to regain momentum. In Spain, he crossed the finish line in sixth place, wondering why he couldn’t go any faster.

The SF-25 is temperamental, but also undriveable for the 40-year-old driver. Former McLaren race director Eric Boullier believes that Hamilton is still facing cultural rather than technical problems.

The Briton spent eleven years at a German team based in England. Moving from one environment to another is not easy. While appreciating #44’s bold choice to join a historic and prestigious team like Ferrari, the former Renault and Lotus sporting director stated that adapting to the change is tough.

Eric Boullier compared Hamilton’s situation at Ferrari to that of Fernando Alonso in 2007, when he joined McLaren after winning two drivers’ titles with Renault. The Spaniard expected preferential treatment, but the team was impressed by then-rookie Lewis. The French motor racing engineer and manager believes Lewis Hamilton is now experiencing a similar situation, only with the roles reversed.

“I remember Fernando at McLaren in 2007: he had the impression that the team wasn’t backing him because the younger guy in the team was Lewis,” Eric Boullier said in an interview with Racing News 365.

“Ferrari’s golden boy isn’t Lewis, it’s Charles”“Lewis is now realizing that at Ferrari, the golden boy isn’t him, it’s Charles. We can see it in his communication with his engineer. He’s facing some difficulties. I imagine it will take some time.”

Eric Boullier added that Lewis Hamilton might have felt more “comfortable being British in a team based in Britain” like Mercedes. Culture has a huge impact on a person’s life, as the former McLaren man pointed out, especially for someone trying to adapt to a new environment.

“We know how fast he is, we know he’s the greatest of all time. And yet, it’s clear that one of the drivers feels at home – Charles Leclerc – while the other doesn’t feel comfortable yet,” he concluded.

Jun 11, 2025David Carter

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