Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari career is now being thwarted by F1 rule introduced in 2022 that can’t be changed

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Lewis Hamilton added six more points to his tally for the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but that wasn’t enough to put a smile on his face.

After five race weekends, Lewis Hamilton sits seventh in the drivers’ championship, 68 points behind leader Oscar Piastri.

He’ll be frustrated that both Mercedes drivers have secured better points tallies at this stage of the campaign, especially considering rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s lack of experience.

Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium finish of the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, putting in his best performance of the year.

However, that won’t offer Hamilton much consolation, after he finished more than half a minute behind his teammate, despite only starting three places behind him on the grid.

Martin Brundle wasn’t convinced by Hamilton’s post-race comments in Saudi Arabia, where he admitted that he didn’t enjoy a second of the race in Jeddah and struggled to understand the car.

Leclerc has explained why he thinks Hamilton is struggling, and while the updates brought to Bahrain appear to have allowed the team to take a step forward, the seven-time world champion’s issues might be more deep rooted than Ferrari realise.

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Lewis Hamilton struggling to adjust to Ferrari’s Formula 1 engine

A report from Motosport Italia has shared more details about the issues that Hamilton is currently facing.

The 40-year-old is finding it difficult to using the engine braking in his Ferrari, as it’s a different feeling to what he experienced at Mercedes.

Ferrari’s engine is ‘more brutal’ than Mercedes’ power unit, meaning that Hamilton’s driving style isn’t as efficient as Leclerc’s when it comes to getting back on the power after each braking zone.

Bernie Collins noticed a difference in Leclerc and Hamilton’s driving style in Saudi Arabia that highlighted how much more confidence the Monegasque driver has in his car.

Hamilton is experienced an ‘unexpected kick’ from the torque of his Ferrari engine which is causing him to suffer from understeer and ‘amplifying’ the issues that have seen him struggle over one lap.

Ferrari have probably already worked out the ‘mechanical interventions’ needed to aid Hamilton, however, there’s a problem.

Formula 1 froze each power unit manufacturer’s engines in 2022, meaning that Ferrari can’t make the necessary changes that would help Hamilton.

Instead, Hamilton is going to have to adapt his driving style to the engine, braking earlier to then get back on the power more quickly in a similar way to Leclerc.

During races where more tyre management is required, Hamilton should be able to close the gap to Leclerc, but that can’t be guaranteed at every race this season.

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Lewis Hamilton not under pressure despite tough start to the 2025 F1 season

Team principal Fred Vasseur admitted after the race in Saudi Arabia that he has 2000% confidence in Hamilton.

He said, via Auroracer, “If I look at China where he beat Piastri and Verstappen and led the whole Sprint Race, or the second stint in Bahrain or even the start of the second stint here in Jeddah, I am not too worried.

“The potential is there, we need to work on improving the balance. I understand his disappointment: he is seventh and his teammate is on the podium, I would be surprised if it wasn’t.

“Lewis is a racer and always wants the best. We need to react together”

Martin Brundle has shared how Ferrari privately feel about Hamilton, and it’s a positive sign for Hamilton.

He’s become a seven-time world champion by constantly finding solution throughout his career.

Although it’s frustrating that a simple fix has been outlawed, Hamilton will have to make a choice between trying to change his driving style for the rest of the season, or hoping he can convince Ferrari to develop their next power unit to better suit him.