F1 star claims Lewis Hamilton 'not enjoying' Ferrari stint

lewis hamilton, ferrari, 2025, sad — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

F1 star claims Lewis Hamilton 'not enjoying' Ferrari stint

George Russell has been speaking about his former team-mate

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Sunday 11 May 2025 21:00

Formula 1 star and Lewis Hamilton's former team-mate George Russell has claimed that the seven-time world champion isn't enjoying his move to Ferrari thus far.

Hamilton moved to the famous Italian team in January in a switch which was announced almost a year prior, hoping to compete for a record eighth drivers' title, but is 90 points down on leader Oscar Piastri after just six races.

His old Mercedes team, however, have already secured four podiums in 2025, with Hamilton's former team-mate Russell claiming all of those and sat up in fourth in the drivers' championship.

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Mercedes are also second in the constructors' championship, appearing to be McLaren's closest challengers despite it being Ferrari who finished just 11 points behind the eventual champions in 2024.

Russell recently suggested that this poor start to the season for Hamilton and Ferrari may just be wearing on his former team-mate, expressing sympathy with the seven-time champion.

"If he was beaming with a big smile, you’d be questioning why he’s beaming with a big smile. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I like him personally. It’s not nice to see somebody who’s not enjoying it.

"But why should he be enjoying it? Because for him it’s not about the money, it’s about the results. And it’s not clicking for him at the moment, but I’m sure it will click at one point."

Hamilton's Ferrari woes

While the lack of performance in Ferrari's SF-25 has been clear for all to see, the worrying thing for Hamilton will be his performance compared to new team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The 40-year-old has been outqualified by Leclerc in five out of six main race qualifying sessions, and sits 12 points behind the Monegasque driver in the standings.

This follows a 2024 season in which Hamilton was outclassed by Russell at Mercedes, with two race victories glossing over what was a pretty poor final year with the team.

German legend Ralf Schumacher recently suggested that Hamilton could quit Ferrari before his contract is over, with Russell's comments about the champion not enjoying himself adding more fuel to that particular fire.

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Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes George Russell Oscar Piastri Miami Grand Prix