Lewis Hamilton Struggling at Ferrari, Jenson Button Observes… Read more
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is facing a tough start to his career at Ferrari, and former teammate Jenson Button believes it’s having a clear emotional impact on the British driver. Hamilton, who joined Ferrari for the 2025 season after a long and successful stint with Mercedes, has yet to find his footing in his new surroundings.
In his first six races for the Italian team, Hamilton has not secured a single podium finish. The only bright spot in his season so far was a victory in the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, both he and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified from that event’s main race due to technical infringements, nullifying any further gains from that weekend.
What’s been especially difficult for Hamilton is being consistently outperformed by Leclerc. Apart from the disqualified race in China, Leclerc has finished ahead of Hamilton in every other Grand Prix. This level of internal team competition is something Hamilton has rarely faced throughout his illustrious career, having often been the dominant figure in his previous teams.
Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion who raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren between 2010 and 2012, spoke to Sky Sports about the changes he’s noticed in his former teammate. According to Button, Hamilton appears to be a very different person now than he was during their years as teammates. He suggested that the pressure and underwhelming results are weighing heavily on Hamilton, affecting both his performance and his demeanor.
Button remarked that Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to Ferrari’s current performance level, coupled with the internal challenge from Leclerc, has created an unfamiliar and difficult environment for the 39-year-old. Ferrari’s car hasn’t yet given Hamilton the chance to compete at the front of the grid regularly, which is a stark contrast to his dominant years with Mercedes.
Currently, Hamilton trails Leclerc by 12 points in the driver standings heading into the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The pressure is mounting as fans and analysts alike question whether Hamilton can turn things around at Ferrari or if this phase of his career will be defined by unfulfilled expectations.
As one of the most decorated drivers in the sport’s history, Hamilton is no stranger to adversity. However, the emotional toll of his slow start at Ferrari is clearly visible, and even those closest to him—like Button—can see how deeply it’s affecting him both on and off the track.
