Jolyon Palmer’s ‘just been dropped’ Lewis Hamilton analysis highlights critical issue he must address at Ferrari

Ferrari need to show signs of progress during the upcoming races to avoid the 2025 Formula 1 season being a complete disaster.

Charles Leclerc was arguably the fastest driver on the grid at the end of last year as Ferrari narrowly missed out on winning the constructors’ championship.

Unfortunately, the developments Fred Vasseur’s team worked on over the winter break have seen Ferrari take a step backwards.

Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looked far more competitive at the Monaco Grand Prix, but the concern is that the result could be a one-off given the unique aspects of the circuit.

Ferrari’s drivers should have lined up second and fourth on the grid if it weren’t for Hamilton’s three-place grid penalty.

While Ferrari tried to help Hamilton avoid impeding Max Verstappen, the result of the seven-time world champion starting further down the grid meant that he was never in contention to earn his first Ferrari podium.

However, Jolyon Palmer spotted something else in Hamilton’s performance in the Principality that will worry Ferrari even more.

The 40-year-old has struggled to push the SF-25 to its limits in the same way as Leclerc, a trend that has been repeated after Hamilton’s deficit to his teammate in Saudi Arabia.

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Jolyon Palmer worried by Lewis Hamilton’s pace at the Monaco Grand Prix

Palmer was commentating on the Monaco Grand Prix for Channel 4 and during the closing stages of the race, he was studying how the top five had performed across the event.

He explained: “OK, so, firstly, what we wanted from Monaco was a race where the frontrunners have to push.

“We are getting that, we’re not seeing it because there’s closer cars on the track.

“But, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, they’re all pushing, which is why Hamilton is nearly a pit stop away from Verstappen now.

“He’s just been dropped on pace by the top four. He pitted early, he’s used his tyres and he doesn’t have the pace to stick with four drivers up front who are pushing.

“That’s why Piastri clipped the barrier because he’s having to push to try and put pressure on Leclerc, but also to try and get Verstappen away from him because Max is close and might yet pressurise Oscar for a place on the podium.”

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Lewis Hamilton struggling with a lack of confidence in Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car

Hamilton’s grid position made his life far more difficult in Monaco as he was unable to find a way past Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso in the opening stages.

By the time he had cleared both drivers, he found it far more difficult to navigate the lapped traffic on the track because of how many cars were bunched together by Racing Bulls and Williams’ team tactics.

Hamilton is said to be suffering from a lack of confidence in the front end of his Ferrari which will be one of the reasons why he can’t quite push the SF-25 to its limits like Leclerc.

The deficit to his Monegasque teammate will be a concern to Vasseur given how important it is in Monaco, especially for teammates to be able to work together.

Red Bull were in a far worse position with Yuki Tsunoda left in no man’s land by his strategy, highlighting the importance of having two drivers who can perform at a similar level.