Everyone thought the world would stop spinning when Lewis Hamilton walked into Maranello. It was the move. The "LeBron to Miami" moment of Formula 1. But honestly? The first year in red was more of a cold shower than a victory lap.
People expected instant magic. They saw the seven world titles, the 105 race wins, and the 104 pole positions and figured a Ferrari suit was all he needed to reset the clock. It wasn't that simple. 2025 was the first time in Lewis Hamilton’s entire career—spanning nearly two decades—that he didn't stand on a single Grand Prix podium. That’s a wild stat when you think about it. Since 2007, the man has been a trophy-collecting machine. To go 24 races without a top-three finish felt surreal. He finished 6th in the 2025 standings with 156 points, trailing his teammate Charles Leclerc by a hefty 86 points. If you’re a Hamilton fan, it was hard to watch. If you’re a critic, you’re probably saying he’s "washed."
But let’s look at the actual data before we write off the most successful driver in history.
Why the Ferrari Marriage Started With a Fight
Moving teams isn't just about sitting in a different colored car. It's a total culture shock. Hamilton spent 12 years at Mercedes. He knew every bolt in those cars. At Ferrari, he ran into a car—the SF-25—that basically hated his driving style.
Leclerc loves a "pointy" car. He wants the front end to bite immediately, even if the rear is sliding all over the place. Hamilton? Not so much. He likes a smoother, more predictable entry into corners. In 2025, Lewis was constantly complaining about the brakes and the engine braking being too aggressive. He couldn't "trail brake" the way he wanted to.
The Radio Drama Nobody Expected
Then there was the engineering mess. You probably heard the radio clips. They were... tense.
Riccardo Adami, who worked with Vettel and Sainz, was Hamilton’s race engineer for 2025. It just didn't click. In Australia, Lewis told him to "leave me to it" because the info dump was too much. By Miami, he was cracking jokes about Ferrari taking a "tea break" on strategy.
Just yesterday, January 16, 2026, Ferrari confirmed they are splitting them up. Adami is moving to the Driver Academy, and Lewis is getting a new "race whisperer" for the 2026 season. This is a huge deal. It’s Ferrari admitting that the current setup failed their $60 million-a-year superstar.
The 2026 Reset: Is the GOAT Still There?
So, is he done? Most experts don't think so. There's a massive regulation change coming in 2026, and Hamilton is currently obsessed with "injecting his DNA" into the new car.
He’s 41 now. That’s old for a driver, but Fernando Alonso is still out there proving that age is just a number if the reflexes hold up. Hamilton’s 2024 win at Silverstone showed the world he still has that "Hammertime" gear. He hasn't lost the speed; he’s lost the connection with the machinery.
Breaking Down the Numbers
To understand the scale of what he's chasing, you have to look at where he stands compared to the greats:
- World Championships: 7 (Tied with Michael Schumacher)
- Total Race Wins: 105 (All-time record)
- Total Podiums: 202
- Career Points: 5018.5
- Current Salary: Estimated $60 million base (could hit $100M with bonuses)
The money is astronomical, but the motivation is clearly that eighth title. He’s 19 wins ahead of Schumacher now. He’s the only driver to ever cross the 100-win threshold. Staying in the sport isn't about the paycheck—it’s about the legacy of being the undisputed greatest of all time.
More Than Just a Driver
It's easy to forget that Hamilton is basically a one-man industry. His net worth is closing in on $300 million. He’s not just sitting in a simulator all day; he’s co-chairing the Met Gala, launching vegan restaurant chains like Neat Burger, and producing a $300 million F1 movie with Brad Pitt.
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But the stuff that actually matters to him is the "Hamilton Commission."
The stats there are pretty grim. Only about 1% of the 40,000 people working in UK motorsport are from Black backgrounds. Hamilton has been vocal about how "lonely" it was being the only Black driver on the grid for 15 years. Through Mission 44, he’s actually putting his own money into changing those numbers, pushing for a more diverse talent pipeline in STEM and engineering.
What to Watch for This Season
If you're following F1 in 2026, the narrative is going to be dominated by whether Ferrari can actually give Lewis a car that doesn't feel like a "nightmare."
He’s already started training for the Australian Grand Prix in March. The new race engineer appointment is the next big domino to fall. If they find someone who speaks his language—someone who knows when to shut up and when to push—we might see the old Lewis back.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Pre-season Testing: Look at Hamilton's body language in Barcelona later this month. If he's smiling, the 2026 car is better.
- Listen to the Radio: The first race in Melbourne will reveal if the new engineer relationship is working or if the friction remains.
- Track the Strategy: Ferrari's biggest weakness hasn't been speed; it's been making weird calls under pressure. Watch if Hamilton starts overstepping the pit wall to call his own shots.
The "fairytale" isn't over yet, but the ink is definitely starting to dry on the final chapters.