Back in January 2025, Lewis Hamilton said of his move to Ferrari: "Driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning was one of the best feelings of my life. I had the biggest smile on my face." But that smile was soon wiped off his face.
Being a seven-time Formula 1 champion and one of the biggest names in the world of sports, Hamilton's every move was bound to attract all the attention.
His move from Mercedes to Ferrari was no exception; his iconic picture taken on his first day at Maranello amassed over 5.7 million likes on Instagram.
A large number of fans gathered at the Scuderia's team base to get a glimpse of their new hero. It was hoped that Hamilton would lead the team to glory alongside the much-loved Charles Leclerc.
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Hamilton's debut season was off to a flying start, as he won the Sprint in Shanghai, his first victory as a Ferrari driver.
However, things unravelled from that moment, and Hamilton went on to experience one of his worst seasons of his illustrious F1 career.
The 41-year-old ended the season in sixth place, without a podium finish and 86 points behind Leclerc.
Hamilton also had several Q1 exits, especially towards the back end of the 2025 campaign.
Speaking to SPORTbible, FIA-accredited journalist and AutoRacer.it reporter Luca Manacorda explained that although fans in Italy had high hopes for Hamilton, their expectations were soon met with the harsh reality of the 2025 season.
He explained: "Lewis was welcomed in Italy with huge enthusiasm, and for many fans his arrival immediately brought back memories of Michael Schumacher joining Ferrari.
"However, expectations soon collided with the harsh reality of last season: 2025 was genuinely disappointing, and the criticism inevitably involved him as well."
From being disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix after a promising Sprint victory to experiencing three Q1 exits in a row, Hamilton endured a large number of tough moments in 2025.
Italian F1 expert picks out Lewis Hamilton's 'lowest point' at Ferrari
For Manacorda, one particular moment stood out as possibly the Brit's lowest point at Ferrari, something that sent shockwaves across the Ferrari fan base.
Back in August 2025, after a Q2 exit in Hungary, Hamilton labelled himself as 'absolutely useless' and declared that Ferrari 'need to change driver'.
Reflecting on that moment, Manacorda said: "Hearing a seven-time world champion sound so resigned came as a real shock to fans who expected him to lead the team back toward title contention.
"Instead, that comment felt — to make a comparison — more like something you would hear from a young driver struggling alongside a dominant teammate like Max Verstappen."
However, Hamilton was certainly not solely to blame for his disastrous debut season, as the team failed to provide a car that suited his driving style. The SF-25 was one that even Leclerc couldn't secure a Grand Prix victory in.
In Italy, the view is simple: the 2026 season will truly be an indicator of whether Hamilton still has what it takes to win, but the concern remains whether the 41-year-old's advice will be listened to.
Manacorda added: "Ferrari’s biggest mistake, something that will likely be judged more clearly this year, was announcing Hamilton’s signing very early but then putting him in a car that had essentially been designed and developed around Leclerc alone.
"This is something Lewis himself has hinted at several times, as well as when he mentioned the feedback and notes he had submitted to the team with a view to improving for 2026. The real curiosity now is how much of his influence is reflected in this year’s car."
Will Lewis Hamilton improve in 2026?
From what we have seen so far in Bahrain, it appears that Hamilton is much happier with the SF-26.
The Brit clocked the third fastest time during the first testing week, finishing behind Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Speaking to the media, Hamilton also stated that he feels more involved in the development of the SF-26 and said that his DNA is within the team's new challenger.
He said: "With the car, I think we've started off quite well so far. It's an exciting time with the new generation of cars, because it's all brand new, we're all trying to figure it out on the go.
"Last year we were locked into a car that ultimately, I inherited. This is a car that I've been able to be a part of developing on the simulator, and so a bit of my DNA is within. I'm more connected to this one, for sure."
Topics: Ferrari, Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, Spotlight
Marcus Chan