Sebastian Vettel has backed Lewis Hamilton to turn his Formula 1 fortunes around at Ferrari after a difficult start with the Scuderia.
Pole position and victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint during the second round of the 2025 F1 season proved to be a false dawn for Hamilton at Ferrari, with the seven-time World Champion struggling to get to grips with his SF-25.
After the Bahrain GP, Hamilton referred to his Ferrari as “alien” and warned fans his season could be “painful” after a disappointing showing in Saudi Arabia.
Vettel, a four-time title winner with Red Bull who later spent six seasons at Ferrari, believes Hamilton can turn his fortunes around.
“I believe that Lewis can drive – there’s no doubt about that,” Vettel told Sky Sports.
“He can do everything that is asked of him.
“It is also completely normal that you need a little time.
“If development moves in the right direction, Ferrari will be in a completely different position. They were very strong last year and just missed out on the constructors’ championship.
“You shouldn’t write off the team or the two drivers.
“It’s a new environment, a different culture, different people.
“Some just take longer to find their way around.”
Vettel ‘keeping fingers crossed’ for Hamilton Ferrari title
Vettel’s tenure at Ferrari saw him repeatedly thwarted in his quest for a title in red by Hamilton and the once-dominant Mercedes outfit.
A rivalry on track became a friendship with Hamilton and Vettel using their global platform to spead positivity and influence changes to support equality.
Speaking to the BBC last month, Vettel acknowledged, “Well, for me, [a Ferrari title] didn’t quite work because Lewis was there [at Mercedes]. So let’s see now how he will get on.
“But yeah, my fingers crossed. I obviously have raced him a long time. We get along really well, and he’s by far the most outspoken driver on the grid at the minute,” Vettel added.
“His on track skills don’t need to be repeated. I think the numbers and statistics speak for themselves.
“But it’s great to see that he’s still on the grid, and he still has, you know, that influence and uses it in a positive manner.
“So naturally, my fingers are crossed, for him to win the championship.”
Hamilton heads to Miami sitting seventh in the Drivers’ standings with 31 points.
Despite his troubles, Hamilton was in a positive mood as Ferrari launched its HP tribute livery in Miami on Thursday, telling Sky Sport F1 Italy, “Every race for me is an incredible feeling because every race is my first with Ferrari.”
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