Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged the steep learning curve he faces in adapting to life at Ferrari, revealing that a significant shift in his driving style is required to unlock the full potential of the SF-25.
Despite grabbing headlines with a Sprint victory in China — his first win in red — the seven-time world champion has endured a bumpy start to his post-Mercedes chapter. With mixed results and a disqualification overshadowing his early outings, Hamilton’s fifth-place finish in Bahrain remains his strongest Grand Prix showing for the Scuderia to date.
Looking ahead to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton admitted his priority is fine-tuning his approach behind the wheel. “My focus this weekend is driving style, really getting on top of the circuit and getting into a rhythm,” he explained. “It’s a track, a bit like Monaco or Baku, where rhythm is everything — you need to find it early and build from there without overdriving.”
The Briton confessed that adapting to Ferrari’s current machinery has required more than just minor tweaks. “It’s just driving style — every driver has one, and mine has worked for many years,” he said. “You naturally make small adjustments over time, but this requires something more drastic. I found a couple of things that helped last time out, but making them stick every weekend will take work.”
Hamilton also admitted that old habits could be hard to shake — particularly in high-pressure sessions. “When you’re pushing in Qualifying to squeeze out that last bit, I can imagine myself defaulting to the old ways. So I’ve got to stay patient and really stick with the changes. That starts tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has shown stronger consistency in recent races, securing back-to-back fourth-place finishes and appearing more at ease with the car’s quirks. However, the Monegasque driver revealed that his own adaptation hasn’t been straightforward either.
“It’s just a bit trickier to drive,” Leclerc said of the SF-25’s handling. “It might be less predictable on corner entry, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Weirdly though, it’s something I actually enjoy.”
He added that on street circuits like Jeddah, finding the right set-up balance is critical. “You need complete confidence to attack the corners properly. There’s a fine line to walk — push too far and the unpredictability bites. But for now, I like the direction we’ve taken, even if it means fighting the car a bit more.”
As Ferrari continues to refine its 2025 challenger, both drivers face a unique challenge: taming a car that demands precision, adaptability, and a fresh approach to extract every last tenth. For Hamilton, the process of unlearning may be just as crucial as learning anew.