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Lewis Hamilton facing Ferrari’s long-term flaw that hampered Sebastian Vettel

Originally posted on HITC | By Shay Rogers | Last updated Aug 7, 2025 11:37 AM ET

On his day, Charles Leclerc can make anyone look ordinary, and since arriving in Formula 1, he has managed to get the better of two of the sport’s biggest names.

It is not entirely clear why that is – it could be down to Ferrari’s car design or something else – but both Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have found it tough going.

Now 27, Leclerc is hitting the peak years of his career and has spent too many seasons waiting for Ferrari to give him a car capable of winning a title.

He will not be part of the 2026 driver market shuffle, but even with a contract running until 2029, he may need to start considering other opportunities soon.

Hamilton has been having a rough time in qualifying lately. He has had back-to-back Q2 exits, and footage from his onboard camera shows where he is struggling most.

A controversial move by Max Verstappen at the Hungarian Grand Prix might have highlighted what the Brit has lost at Ferrari. His defending has not looked as sharp as it once was.

Like Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton is suffering with Ferrari’s rear end

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Comments from Vettel back in 2020, made to Hamilton’s engineer, have resurfaced. They have got fans wondering if anything at Ferrari has actually changed over the past few years.

Fred Vasseur has been in charge for just over two years, and his contract extension means he will stay on beyond 2025. But despite that stability, the team still are not meeting expectations.

Not long ago, Vettel offered some advice to Ferrari on how they could help turn things around for Hamilton. But instead of improving, this season seems to be getting harder for him.

According to a report from F1-insider, Hamilton might now be dealing with the same problem that Vettel struggled with back in 2019 – an issue that never seemed to go away during his time there.

The rear end of his car was unpredictable, leading to a series of spins and errors. It is a pattern that seems to be repeating itself now, with Hamilton facing similar problems behind the wheel.

What options are left for Lewis Hamilton to fix his Ferrari problems?

It looks like Hamilton might have to wait until the 2026 F1 regulations come into effect before he sees any real improvement. Until then, Ferrari are not expected to make any major changes to the car’s core design.

The new rules should bring an entirely fresh car, and that clean slate could work in Hamilton’s favour. It would put him on equal footing with Leclerc and the rest of the field.

Hamilton is starting to understand just how different Ferrari’s approach is, and it is clear it will take some time to shape them into a reliable title contender.

If anyone has the background needed to do it, it is him. After 18 years in Formula 1, he still has moments that show he hasn’t lost his speed – like his sprint win in China earlier this season.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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