Ferrari had hopes of challenging for both championships going into 2025 after arguably being the strongest team on the grid at the end of last season.
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were hot on Lando Norris’ heels at the season finale in Abu Dhabi as the Brit secured McLaren the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari missed out on winning the title by 14 points, and the signing of Lewis Hamilton was hoped to give Fred Vasseur’s team the edge heading into this season.
Leclerc wasn’t happy with the changes Ferrari made to the car in pre-season, but it was expected that the team would still be in the fight to be the best of the rest behind McLaren.
However, that’s not how this season has played out, with Hamilton’s win in the Sprint Race in China an outlier in terms of the team’s results.
Luca di Montezemolo is a Ferrari legend, having acted as team principal during the 1970s and overseen Niki Lauda’s two championship wins for the Scuderia.
However, the excitement he had around Hamilton signing has dissipated after attending the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Luca di Montezemolo no longer thinks Lewis Hamilton will achieve his Ferrari ‘dream’
At the beginning of February, before pre-season testing started, Di Montezemolo said to press agency ANSA: “An unexpected and impressive move, which I hope will not only be useful for the competitiveness of the team, but also a way to put the team back in the spotlight.
“Hamilton is a big champion, he will do everything to end his career with a world title. (Charles) Leclerc wants to win his first title, this will be so much fun.
“With two number ones, it will be even more important to have a car capable of winning, that’s fundamental. Otherwise, this move will be very risky.”
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Lando Norris |
77 |
| 2 |
Oscar Piastri |
74 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
69 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
63 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
32 |
| 6 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
30 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
25 |
| 8 |
Alexander Albon |
18 |
| 9 |
Esteban Ocon |
14 |
| 10 |
Lance Stroll |
10 |
However, when speaking to Blick while attending the race in Bahrain, Di Montezemolo u-turned on his previous positivity around Hamilton and simply said: “His dream of a world championship title at Ferrari will not come true!”
When pushed further on the problems Ferrari are facing, he explained: “The team has lacked leadership for years. Yes, it lacks soul. They used to work day and night, and the company used to stand for passion. And now they’re chasing success almost aimlessly!”
Not only that, but he questioned another driver’s decision Ferrari have made, and said: “All of Italy is wondering why an Italian like Kimi Antonelli is driving for Mercedes and not Ferrari.”
Lewis Hamilton still getting to grips with Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car
Hamilton produced his best Grand Prix result of the season in Bahrain, coming home in fifth behind Leclerc.
There was still an eight-second gap between the two teammates, but considering Hamilton started seven positions further back than the Monegasque driver, that can be seen as a positive result.
Martin Brundle has a theory about why Hamilton is struggling, and he explained in his post-race comments that he’s still getting used to the different parts and processes that Ferrari use.
For example, Hamilton is having to use new brakes for the first time in 15 years, which will mean he’s unable to be as precise as he once was going into corners compared to when he was at McLaren and Mercedes.
David Coulthard spotted something troubling in Hamilton’s qualifying performance in Bahrain, and the seven-time world champion has been struggling for some time over one lap after George Russell comprehensively beat him in their head-to-head last season.
Hamilton has spent his entire Formula 1 career proving people wrong, and Di Montezemolo’s changing his mind is unable to worry him as Ferrari continue to iron out the issues with the SF-25.
