Has Lewis Hamilton met Ferrari's expectations so far?

Wrestling with the SF-25

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Lewis Hamilton continues to progress in the Ferrari paddock — as Sky News puts it, “exceeding expectations,” but the reality behind the scenes tells a more complicated story. Teammate Charles Leclerc continues to lead in points comfortable as Hamilton appears to be wrestling with his SF-25, still trying to find the sweet spot. So what’s really slowing him down? Is it a car setup issue, driving style mismatch, or just a matter of time before things click?

Out of the top 5

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Hamilton currently sits out of the top five in the drivers' championship following his challenging start to the season. Rookie Kimi Antonelli (who was signed to replace Hamilton) is lingering behind the British driver in the standings and could even pass him in Monaco. The British driver has underlined the problems with the car, claiming it “hindered performance a little bit,” reports Sky Sports.

The ground effect era

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Hamilton is struggling to wrap his head around the ground effect era. The goal behind ground effect is to reduce big performance gaps between top-tier teams on the grid. This new technology has impacted the way new cars handle corners.

More understeering

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

The grip shifts from the rear of the car to the front while entering a corner, which means drivers can end up understeering or losing stability much easier than previous car models, reports PlanetF1.

Different style

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Hamilton is struggling with the introduction of ground effect as he dives into corners really late while also being hard on his brakes. In most of Lewis Hamilton's post-race interviews, his conclusion has been the same. “The car lacks balance and grip,” reports ESPN.

Fred Vasseur era

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

The seven-time world champion is struggling to get a feel for his new car. Despite the issues revolving around the ground effect, the veteran Formula 1 driver is also having to adjust to a new team philosophy. Team principal Fred Vasseur runs a more relaxed leadership style in the Ferrari paddock, but the pressure of racing at Ferrari is unmatched.

Much to learn

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Truth is, it's too early into the season to judge Lewis Hamilton's first five races with Ferrari. The British driver is still in the throes of a learning curve, getting a grip of his new car and team culture. Most important of all, he is learning to compete with teammate Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc's strong start to the season

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Charles Leclerc has enjoyed a strong start to the season. Now in his seventh season for the Italian team, he has been putting in some good races, most recently finishing 3rd at Jeddah.

Eyes elsewhere?

Wrestling with the SF-25, Out of the top 5, The ground effect era, More understeering, Different style, Fred Vasseur era, Much to learn, Leclerc's strong start to the season, Eyes elsewhere?

Maybe Lewis Hamilton is no longer cut for Formula 1? Well, the veteran driver is considered one of the best drivers on the grid following his personal history with the sport. However, there may be hints of his passion fading away.

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