Gerhard Berger says Lewis Hamilton is in a ‘messed up’ situation at Ferrari he’s never experienced before

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There are plenty of fascinating subplots to consider during the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season beyond the championship battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

One of the most fascinating storylines to follow is what’s going to happen at Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc still chasing their first Grand Prix win of 2025.

If Hamilton doesn’t finish on the podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, then he will equal the record set by Louis Rosier in 1954 of the most races for Ferrari without finishing on the podium (15).

Jolyon Palmer has questioned just how good Hamilton could be at Ferrari, comparing him to Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

Both drivers famously arrived at the Scuderia as world champions, but couldn’t add to their tally while with the team.

Hamilton doesn’t want to follow in Vettel’s footsteps in that regard, but right now, it seems increasingly unlikely that his time at Ferrari will end without claiming an eighth drivers’ championship.

One driver who knows all about racing for Ferrari, and, unfortunately, failing to win a title with the team, is Gerhard Berger.

The Austrian believes that Hamilton is now facing an unprecedented scenario at Ferrari that he’s really ‘struggling’ with.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Gerhard Berger thinks Lewis Hamilton has ‘messed up’ as Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s number one driver

Berger was speaking to the Austrian outlet Krone ahead of the upcoming race at Zandvoort, and he explained: “The whole thing is a bit messed up.

“Lewis was always used to being number one in a team. Now Leclerc has him under control.

“But this is more of a morality tale; status shouldn’t play a role.

“Lewis is struggling with it, though, but he has to get out of it himself, get the car and his teammate under control. It’s entirely up to him.”

Ferrari refused to hand Hamilton or Leclerc number one status at the start of the season, but the Monegasque driver has opened up a 42-point lead over his teammate after 14 race weekends.

The 40-year-old tends to improve as the season goes on, and it will be interesting to see if Hamilton’s found a way over the summer break to better understand Ferrari’s recent update packages.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Bernie Ecclestone tells Lewis Hamilton his next career step after Ferrari struggles

Hamilton will be pinning his hopes on next season’s changing regulations helping change his fortunes after years of struggles with the ground effect cars.

Pat Symonds thinks F1’s 2026 regulations will suit Hamilton, although until the cars are on the grid, everything is theoretical at this stage.

Hamilton has also received backing from Sergio Perez, who equally suffered last season and ended up losing his Red Bull seat, only for Cadillac to offer him a way back onto the grid.

However, one person who thinks that Hamilton’s time at the top of Formula 1 is over is Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone has told Hamilton to retire, believing that his hopes of ever becoming a world champion again are over.

Ferrari have at least one more year of Hamilton in their car, and the 40-year-old controls a clause in his current deal that could see him stay on the grid until the end of 2027.

Whether he chooses to take up that option if he’s still struggling is another matter entirely.