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Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari won’t reflect on their first Formula 1 season together with much fondness, but the current winter break is essential to avoid a repeat of the seven-time world champion’s most disappointing campaign on the grid.
For the first time since Lewis Hamilton made his debut with McLaren in 2007, the 40-year-old failed to secure a Grand Prix podium.
Hamilton took an unwanted record from Louis Rosier in the process as the Ferrari driver with the most appearances for the team without a top-three finish, outside of Sprint events.
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Charles Leclerc comfortably beat his new teammate in the drivers’ championship, but his inability to win a race for the fourth season in his Ferrari career highlights that the problem wasn’t just with Hamilton.
Ferrari are already planning changes to Hamilton’s car in 2026, with a brand new set of regulations set to shape up the pecking order of the grid.
Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos has been speaking about the challenges that Hamilton and Ferrari face going forward.
He thinks he’s spotted something looking at the onboard footage of both Ferrari drivers that suggests Fred Vasseur’s team have a ‘terrible’ problem they desperately need to solve.
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Ferrari told they have a ‘terrible rear end’ problem that they must solve ahead of next season
Doornbos was speaking on The Pit Talk Podcast at the end of the 2025 season.
Reflecting on Ferrari’s campaign, he said: “It’s a difficult car to drive as well, I have to say. I did some onboard shots with Lewis and with Charles. And the power oversteer with these cars is just… Yeah, it’s always like the rear end is terrible.
“From a layman’s term. So understeer basically means when you turn in, nobody’s home, the car goes straight.
“It’s probably you and your first driving lessons where you try to go onto the motorway, you just turn in, nobody’s home.
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“Oversteer is where you turn in, and the rear just lets go. And that doesn’t give any confidence to any drivers.
“There are not many drivers who can drive an oversteer car fast. I know Max is one of them.
“He wants the car pointy on the front end. He wants the front to do what he wants. And he will sort out with his talent the rear end.
“I think Lewis and Charles both are drivers with very fast hands, but this car looks like a handful. So for sure Ferrari didn’t do a good job.”
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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s future being discussed after Ferrari disappointment
Leclerc and Hamilton are at very different stages of their careers, but that hasn’t stopped speculation from beginning to gain traction about how the next few seasons could look for both drivers.
Hamilton dismissed claims he could quit Ferrari at the end of the season despite frequently looking dejected in the media pen after disappointing sessions.
The seven-time world champion will be hoping that Ferrari’s early shift towards their 2026 car will give him a chance to return to winning ways.
Leclerc is in a trickier position, as he’ll be well aware that he’s entering his peak as a Formula 1 driver.
Amid rumours that Ferrari’s rivals are looking closely at the Monegasque driver’s situation, Leclerc has given his manager a clear instruction on his next steps in Formula 1.
With McLaren reportedly looking at Leclerc if Oscar Piastri moves on, it might become more difficult for the 28-year-old to walk away from their interest if Ferrari don’t solve the problems that arose with their car last season.
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