Lewis Hamilton has said that the outside world can’t se “what’s happening in the background” at Ferrari amid his acceptance that he is not in a position to win a Formula 1 race this year.
The Briton endured more misery at the Canadian Grand Prix, after hitting a groundhog that made its way onto the track, which damaged his SF-25 enough to compromise his afternoon.
After qualifying fifth, the damage saw him drop off in his pursuit of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, and ultimately fell behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who had started in eighth place, finishing sixth.
The 2025 season has been one of adaptation and learning for Hamilton, getting used to a brand-new team of engineers and culture, after 11 years with Mercedes.
After the race, Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week that they only see certain things, and not what’s going on behind the scenes, and that he has come to realise a win is not on the cards right now.
“I think what all you guys don’t see is what’s happening in the background. And there’s a lot going on,” he said. “There’s a lot that needs improving. A lot of things need to be changed. For me, I know we’re not fighting for a win this year.”
Hamilton hoping for upgrade amid desperation for win
The SF-25 has not been an easy car to drive for Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc, but Hamilton has seemed to find the package trickier than his Monegasque counterpart, previously saying the car is “alien” to him, and admitted he changes his driving style in qualifying in Canada in order to secure a better position.
Hamilton added that he is working hard with the personnel with whom he is getting accustomed and reiterated his hope for an upgrade for the SF-25 soon.
“I know we’re not in the championship, which is not a great feeling,” he added. “And also I know I’m getting accustomed to working with the team, foundation building, and trying to steer them to make those changes so that next year we can have a car that can win and we can then fight and be consistent and have strategy and all those different things. So with that in mind, I’m OK.
“But obviously I want to win. And so when you’re not competing at the front, you’re not fighting for podiums, I’m definitely a little bit gutted with that. I was hoping today I’d have a fight for a podium.
“But we don’t have the performance currently. So hopefully with an upgrade maybe at some stage we’ll be a bit more, a bit sharper.”
Hamilton talked of his requirement to alter his ways and style for the SF-25, and said he was hopeful the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix will see the the car on a track it is more competitive on.
“I think mostly just me adapting, but I think this track really highlighted the weaknesses of the car and I’ve never had a car understeer so much at low speed here. It just doesn’t want to turn through Turn 2 and Turn 10.
“So yeah, definitely not my most favourite weekend, but I hope the next one will be better.”
READ MORE – How groundhog cost Lewis Hamilton fourth place in F1 Canadian GP
