Marc Priestley thinks Lewis Hamilton is now suffering from the same ‘problem’ that forced Red Bull to sack Sergio Perez

Lewis Hamilton is preparing for his first Formula 1 race in Italy as a Ferrari driver off the back of a much trickier start to 2025 than almost anyone anticipated.

The last time two Ferrari drivers stood on the podium was the season finale last year, and while that’s only seven races ago, the decline has been astronomical.

This can’t be put down to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who are both having trouble consistently maximising the SF-25’s ultimate potential.

Leclerc’s podium finish in Saudi Arabia was sensational but may have proved to be a false dawn for Ferrari after what happened in Miami.

His new teammate recorded his second Sprint Race podium in the United States and deserves immense credit for taking pole position and winning in Shanghai in the shortened format.

However, too often Hamilton has been behind Leclerc, particularly in qualifying, and while Ferrari may have the fourth-fastest car on the grid this season, team principal Fred Vasseur will know how important it is that both of his drivers are performing to the highest level.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Marc Priestley spots Lewis Hamilton ‘problem’ Sergio Perez suffered with last season

Former McLaren mechanic turned pundit Marc Priestley was talking on the Pitlane Life Lessons Podcast about the struggles Liam Lawson has faced this season and explained, “Go back to Checo Perez, previously before him. A series of very good results at times in different cars over his career.

“He’s been an overachiever on lots of occasions. It’s why he got the job at Red Bull Racing.

“But in recent years, you look at the two results from him and his teammate and he’s been absolutely awful. Does that mean he’s an awful driver? I actually think if you look at other drivers up and down the grid with Lewis Hamilton being a really good example right now.

“Lewis, seven-time world champion, statistically the greatest driver in Formula 1, yet since we went to the ground-effect cars in this modern era, first of all with him at Mercedes, now at Ferrari, he’s really struggled to get the best out of those.

“Now, do we believe that Lewis has suddenly lost all of his talent and is no longer a good driver?

“I certainly don’t believe that, I don’t think many people do. Or is the problem, not that he’s not a good driver, is the problem not that Red Bull can’t find a good driver?

“Is the problem that those drivers have a set of skills, [a set] of characteristics, a driving style if you like, the nuances of how they go about performing their craft? And do those characteristics and nuances no longer match up to the car or the tool that they’re being given to apply their craft in this sport?”

READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Ferrari fans back Lewis Hamilton to perform at Imola with updates on the way

Hamilton and Leclerc would love nothing more than to give the Tifosi who turn up to support Ferrari at Imola their first double-podium finish of the season.

It appears unlikely that it’ll happen, although Vasseur has promised a ‘small update’ package will arrive at the track this weekend.

Bigger Ferrari update packages are being worked on, suggesting that the team aren’t considering switching focus to 2026’s car just yet.

Hamilton hasn’t hit the same heights during the ground-effect era as the previous generation of Formula 1 cars, however, this may be partially down to Mercedes taking a step backwards and Ferrari’s 2025 machine being way off the mark.

Perez faced a slightly different issue, with Red Bull being misled by Verstappen’s brilliance in their development plans, ultimately hampering both drivers.

Ferrari fans are backing Hamilton to succeed, but they too know that he needs the right car to make things happen.