Lewis Hamilton has his first race in Italy as a Ferrari F1 driver this Sunday in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as his difficult season heads for the Scuderia’s backyard, Imola.
The joy and excitement that greeted the seven-time Formula 1 champion following his move to Maranello this year has largely evaporated. Over 1,000 fans visited Fiorano for Hamilton’s first drive in a Ferrari F1 car in January, but they are still yet to see the 40-year-old find form.
Even more members of the Tifosi also lined the roads around the Scuderia’s iconic test track in February, as over 5,000 fans watched Hamilton’s first laps in Ferrari’s 2025 F1 car. But the SF-25 has not allowed the Briton to be a constant threat at the front of the field this season.
Fred Vasseur feels Lewis Hamilton is finding it tough as Ferrari’s car is below expectations
Hamilton heads into his first race in Italy as a Ferrari driver this week at Imola just seventh in the F1 drivers’ championship standings with 41 points. His best results for the Scuderia thus far have even both come in F1 Sprints, with Hamilton yet to end a Grand Prix higher than P5.
His plight in the 2025 F1 season ahead of the Emilia Romagna GP in the Scuderia’s backyard has also seen Ferrari feel Hamilton is performing far below expectations. But team principal Fred Vasseur believes his issues also come from Ferrari’s car not meeting their expectations.
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| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
131 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
115 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
99 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
93 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
53 |
| 6 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
48 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
41 |
Vasseur told Sky Sports: “The car is not at the level that we were expecting. If you compare to last year, for example, it means that we are not in an ideal situation.
“I think in this situation, it’s even more difficult for a new driver to adapt to the car. If you are flying and winning every single weekend, it’s much easier for them to adapt to the team.
“But I would say that as long as the collaboration is positive and constructive, even if it’s not of use each weekend in terms of the result, I think we are improving understanding of each other, not just with me but the technical side. I think this is going in the right direction, and I’m quite confident for the future.”
Lewis Hamilton faces disappointment in his first F1 race in Italy as a Ferrari driver at Imola
Hamilton could face another disappointing day at the office in the Emilia Romagna GP as the European leg of the 2025 F1 season starts in Ferrari’s backyard. He finished the Miami Grand Prix last time out a massive 60.186 seconds behind Oscar Piastri, as the McLaren driver won.
A major cause for his deficit in Florida came from Hamilton only qualifying in 12th place, and Ferrari are working on an unexpected rear suspension change to try and help him unlock the SF-25’s speed in qualifying. But the Scuderia do not have any big upgrades coming just yet.
Ferrari will not take any significant upgrades to Imola as the Maranello outfit intends to hold back until the Spanish Grand Prix. So, Hamilton’s first race in Italy as a Ferrari F1 driver might not go as strongly as he, or the thousands of fans who visited Fiorano earlier this year, hope.
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