Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has not gone smoothly, with ongoing issues affecting both his performance and public image. One of the main concerns has been poor communication with his race engineer, particularly evident during confusing radio exchanges in recent races. To help address this, Ferrari has brought in a new race engineer with whom Hamilton has previously worked, although it’s unclear if this person was part of his former Mercedes setup. Despite the change, Riccardo Adami — the engineer often criticized for unclear messages — still retains his role at Ferrari.
The communication adjustments come at a crucial time, as Hamilton continues to face performance struggles on the track. During the Belgian Grand Prix, while his teammate Charles Leclerc secured another podium, Hamilton was eliminated early in qualifying and managed only a seventh-place finish in the race. The difference in their results has highlighted the ongoing issues Hamilton faces in adapting to Ferrari’s machinery and team dynamics.
After the race, Hamilton shared a reflective message on Instagram, expressing both gratitude and determination. He praised the team’s upgrades and hard work, and showed optimism for the upcoming races. Despite apologizing to his team for the Q1 exit, he acknowledged the strategic efforts and pit stop execution by Ferrari. His attitude indicates a desire to move forward and capitalize on recent car improvements as the season continues.
Speaking to the media, Hamilton admitted the last two days had been tough and that his performance did not reflect the team’s effort. He noted that Friday’s issues were multifaceted, while Saturday’s poor showing was mostly his fault. Still, he was pleased to have bounced back somewhat on Sunday, outscoring Mercedes and seeing teammate Leclerc’s strong performance as a sign that Ferrari is moving in the right direction. He stressed the need to build on that momentum.
Currently, Hamilton sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 109 points and no podiums this season, though he did win a Sprint race in Shanghai. As Ferrari continues working on upgrades and communication improvements, Hamilton remains focused on adjusting, delivering better results, and regaining his competitive edge as the second half of the season unfolds.
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