Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari’s F1 struggles are deeper than expected: “Something is holding us back”

As Ferrari continues to grapple with inconsistencies in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton remains a beacon of hope for the team’s future. Despite a challenging run that has seen performance drop sharply since the highs of China, Hamilton is adamant that the potential in the SF-25 car hasn’t disappeared — it just hasn’t been unleashed yet.The Miami Grand Prix was another tough weekend for the Scuderia. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crossed the line well behind the frontrunners, a full minute adrift of the McLarens. But amid the disappointment, Hamilton offered a glimmer of optimism with a clever strategy that saw him clinch a third-place finish in the Sprint race. While this moment of success was short-lived — followed by a frustrating Q2 elimination — the British driver continues to focus on the bigger picture.“Yeah, I had a good day in general,” Hamilton shared after the Miami race. “Eighth doesn’t really look like that.” Though the final result was far from headline-worthy, his words revealed a deeper confidence. “I feel optimistic for the future. I think this car really does have performance. But something is holding us back at the moment.”Ferrari’s primary concern remains the SF-25’s lack of one-lap pace, a flaw that has repeatedly undermined their qualifying sessions and limited their race-day potential. Hamilton acknowledged that the team hasn’t been able to capitalize on the performance the car theoretically holds. “We’ve lost performance since China. It’s there, it’s just we can’t use it. Until we get a fix for that, then this is where we are.”The SF-25, once seen as a serious contender for podium finishes, now finds itself competing with mid-pack teams like Williams. Hamilton didn’t shy away from the reality of their current situation: “Still, for us, we’re battling with the Williams here. So we’re clearly not as quick as we want to be. The Williams did a great job this weekend.”Despite the struggles, Hamilton’s mindset remains constructive. He emphasizes the importance of refining the team’s internal processes while awaiting critical car updates. “In the meantime, we can work on the other stuff, all the other processes… We’ll try something different in the next race. We’ll keep working on our processes.”While he has yet to taste podium glory in Ferrari red, Hamilton believes it's only a matter of time before things turn around. “I truly believe that when we fix some of the problems we have with the car, we’ll be back in the fight with the Mercedes, with the [Red] Bulls,” he said. “It just can’t come quick enough.”Hamilton’s relentless optimism, grounded in experience and belief in the team, offers a compelling narrative as Ferrari works to reclaim its competitive edge. As he looks ahead, the dream of standing on the podium with Ferrari still fuels his drive. “I look forward to the time where maybe I can fight for a podium. That would be nice.”Also Read: F1’s 2025 Miami Grand Prix sees shocking 30% viewership drop after last year’s record-breaking success