Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari has made it clear just how tough it can be for drivers to adjust after a team change.
Heading into the 2025 F1 season, Hamilton is the highest-ranked driver in the championship who moved teams this year. He’s currently sixth in the standings but hasn’t made it onto the podium yet, while his replacement, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, managed a third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.
While Antonelli was already familiar with Mercedes before taking over, Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber and Esteban Ocon at Haas are next in line among those who switched teams entirely.
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Inside Ferrari, there are concerns that Hamilton hasn’t settled into the SF-25 as hoped. Even Charles Leclerc, now in his seventh year with the team, has said that the car isn’t an easy one to handle.
Team principal Fred Vasseur has admitted that both he and Hamilton misjudged how long it would take for him to fully adapt to his new surroundings.
The Ferrari car is quite different from what he drove at Mercedes, even though both have been dealing with similar inconsistencies this season.
One particular component used by Ferrari but not by Mercedes seems to have been a sticking point for Hamilton so far this year.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari switch sees Brembo fielding ‘complaints’ over the team’s brakes
Brembo customer manager Andrea Algeri, speaking to The Race, addressed how Lewis Hamilton has handled the switch.
He said it’s been a joint effort between both sides and described what it’s been like working with the seven-time world champion.
“Obviously, we had some complaints from him within our regular communication and so on, and we are working hard to try to put him in a comfort zone in terms of braking.
“We know he was used to a different material first, but also a different set-up in terms of general braking of the car, that are not only the brakes themselves, but also engine braking, energy recovery and so on.”
Algeri admitted that Ferrari has “given us pressure” as they look for improvements amid their pursuit of success this season.
“So we have been pushing a lot from the team, and we are working hard to try to solve the situation and to have the best result from him,” he added. “On top of that, Ferrari is obviously pushing to be in front, and as usual is one of the teams that gave us the right pressure to go ahead. We are happy to do it. It’s challenging.”
Lewis Hamilton has had difficulties with Ferrari’s braking since Mercedes move
This season’s narrow margins mean even small issues with Hamilton’s setup could end up making a difference on race day.
It shows a lack of confidence when pushing the car to its limits, and Hamilton has admitted struggling with his brakes at times this year.
Brembo’s brakes are very different from Carbon Industrie pads he used throughout his career with McLaren and Mercedes. They were perfect for his late-braking style – something Sam Bird has pointed out this season hasn’t changed.
The 2026 cars may require drivers across the grid – not just Hamilton – to rethink their approach altogether before too long. So finding answers soon could become even more important for both driver and team going forward.
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