If there is one thing that this sport has taught us, it is that Ferrari, in recent years, He knows how to create hype and also how to shake things up, especially Hamilton's. But, as often happens, promises are not always kept. Expectations for a weekend can easily be erased by events on the track, because yes, Ferrari surprises every time, but for better or for worse.
And let no one say that the surprise effect is missing: when you win, it's really nice, isn't it? Charles Leclerc also said it after his victory in Monza last year: “Mamma mia, mamma mia! This season is hell! Ups and downs, mamma mia! How beautiful are the ups! “. But every dream has its awakening, and the one in Suzuka was bitter. On the one hand, the new Ferrari driver, the seven-time world champion, hoped for redemption, for a new page to write. But the team that should have offered him a rebirth still seems to be in full crisis. On the other, SF-25 continues to disappoint expectations, with an engine that seems more dead than a suburban bar on a Monday morning.
Suzuka's disappointment and hopes for the future Ferrari
Let's be clear: you can be a champion, but with a mid-table car, the result doesn't change. And a seventh position, for Hamilton, sounds more like the blink of an eye in the heart of disappointment. What is striking is including all this happened.
Ferrari, which put him at the center of the project since day one in Maranello, now seems to be leaving him without redemption, with a bitter taste in his mouth. A bitter taste that he will probably have to endure for a long time to come. Hamilton has ended up in the dust of broken expectations. Betrayed by a team that today collects more defeats than the World Cups he himself won.
Number 44 is no longer the man who saw the podium as a habit. In recent years, Mercedes had already seen a downward spiral. But 2025 was supposed to be a new dawn. Instead, in Suzuka, Hamilton had to fight to barely stay in the points zone. Strategy errors? A few mistakes in driving? Advancing age? Maybe. But one thing is certain: the SF-25, at the moment, is not up to the level of the real contenders.
Hamilton's words: "Something went wrong"
Already after the race, Hamilton expressed all his frustration: “We found something that didn’t work on the machine.” Few words, but loaded with meaning. No turns of phrase. No attempt to hide the discomfort. The Prancing Horse single-seater is not yet able to fight for the podium. OK, arriving fourth or fifth can be nice, but it is not what a seven-time champion signed for. It is not a title.
Ferrari knows it. The problem of the underbody – the real Achilles heel of the SF-25 – has been discussed several times. But it is not just a question of technique: every detail is under the magnifying glass. The SF-25 is a car that was thought out but not made. Yet, the Englishman is not one to give up easily. He joined a team of people who, at least in words, never give up. With a teammate – Leclerc – who fights in the same way. In Suzuka, Lewis did not blame the car. He preferred to work with the team to find solutions, because after the victory in the Sprint Race in China, his hope still remains alive.
Even when Ferrari doesn't take off, Hamilton's fighting spirit brings optimism:“They say I have lost faith in Ferrari, but this is absolutely false,” he said with a smile that recalls the greats of the past – Schumacher, Senna… Confidence, true confidence, does not disappear from one day to the next. But it lacks a solid foundation. And at Ferrari, unfortunately, everything seems to proceed too slowly.
Turrini's criticisms: "The SF-25 was born badly"
Hamilton's return to Ferrari is not (yet) a fairy tale. It is a complex reality that clashes with the harsh truth of Formula 1 in 2025. The recent performances of the "red" put a stop to what seemed like a possible dream. After a golden decade with Mercedes, Hamilton has set his sights on a team that, however, seems stagnant, stuck in a phase of eternal evolution. It's the weight of a project that doesn't take off.
Fourth place – when it comes – highlights the gap between a driver accustomed to the podium and a car that struggles to keep up. When Hamilton spoke of “something that didn't work”, he wasn't just referring to mechanics. He touched on a deeper discomfort: the lack of chemistry between him and the machine. It’s not enough to be strong. You need a machine that responds. And the SF-25, so far, doesn’t do that.
The team admitted that the main problems are downforce and stability, especially towards the end of the GP. And while the other teams are pushing on the accelerator, Ferrari still seems to be stalling. Yes, the updates are coming. But the competition is fierce. And the real question is: is it just the car's fault? Or has Hamilton not yet adapted to a team in search of an identity?
FantasyF1 and reality: it's time to make choices
For those who play FantasyF1, Hamilton in Ferrari is one of the biggest question marks of the season today. A driver who struggles to score points and a Ferrari that can't find rhythm are not exactly the ideal combination. At the moment, he is more of a risk than a sure bet. If you are looking for easy points, perhaps it is time to focus on Verstappen, Leclerc or Norris - names that are guaranteeing consistency.
And while McLaren and Red Bull dominate and the 2025 championship still seems long, Ferrari will have to make important choices if it wants to hope for a recovery. And Hamilton? He is not ready to give up yet, but how much longer can he hold this roller coaster?
