The seven-time champion is enduring the longest podium wait of any new Ferrari driver — but Russell says circumstances tell the real story.
Lewis Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari has been far more turbulent than expected, with the British star still searching for his first podium in red. His opening 22 race starts without a top-three finish now stand as the longest such run for any newcomer in the team’s history, despite several flashes of competitive pace.
The SF-25 has proven capable in the right hands — Charles Leclerc already has seven podiums this season — leaving Hamilton’s season defined by missed opportunities. Errors in qualifying, harsh penalties and chaotic race scenarios have repeatedly undermined his strongest weekends, extending a drought that stretches back to his P2 for Mercedes in Las Vegas in 2024.
Russell says Hamilton was “robbed” of a Mexico City podium
Speaking to Sky Sports in Las Vegas, George Russell argued that Hamilton’s results are not an accurate reflection of his performance. The Mexico City Grand Prix, he said, was the clearest example.
Hamilton qualified third, his best starting position of the season, but a messy Turn 1 incident saw Leclerc and Max Verstappen cut the corner without penalty. Hamilton later received a 10-second sanction for a separate clash with Verstappen, dropping him from podium contention to eighth.
“It was ridiculous,” Russell said. “Three drivers cut the corner and nothing happened. Lewis was the one who was punished the most — he should’ve been on the podium.” He added that the track’s first corner layout contributed to the confusion, calling it “just rubbish.”
Russell dismisses Hamilton’s self-criticism amid Ferrari pressure
Hamilton’s frustration boiled over after a Q2 exit in Hungary, where he labelled himself “useless” and suggested Ferrari should replace him. Russell immediately rejected the comment as “nonsense,” insisting that Hamilton remains an elite driver.
Still, the statistics tell a tough story: since early 2024, Hamilton trails his teammates 37–10 in qualifying head-to-heads, and while his race pace has often been strong, execution issues have kept him off the podium.
As Ferrari continues to unlock performance from the SF-25, Hamilton’s challenge is no longer raw speed — it’s converting competitive flashes into the breakthrough result that has eluded him for nearly a year.
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