When Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season was announced, expectations soared. The seven-time World Champion was anticipated to bring his wealth of experience, pedigree, and a touch of stardust to the Prancing Horse, potentially steering the Italian team back to championship glory. However, just months into the season, signs are emerging that Hamilton may not be living up to the high hopes Ferrari fans had pinned on him — and some experts now suggest that he’s settling into a No. 2 role within the team.
Dutch F1 analyst Tim Coronel, speaking on RacingNews365’s Formula 1 podcast, didn’t mince words when asked whether Ferrari should officially recognize Hamilton as the second driver behind Charles Leclerc. “It’s very simple,” Coronel stated. “All the figures point to it.” The data he refers to includes race results, qualifying performances, and podium finishes — all of which seem to favor Leclerc so far this season.
Since the start of the 2025 campaign, Hamilton has found himself struggling with the SF-25, Ferrari’s latest challenger. Although both he and teammate Charles Leclerc have battled rear-end instability in the car, Leclerc has managed to adapt more effectively, even scoring podiums in multiple races. Hamilton, on the other hand, has yet to make a similar impact during Grand Prix Sundays, despite showing flashes of speed in shorter sprint events.
Coronel, a self-confessed fan of Hamilton, expressed disappointment in the British driver’s current form. “I think it is very unfortunate because I am also a bit of a fan of Hamilton,” Coronel said. “He did make sure there was a nice battle with Max Verstappen in the past. He’s always outspoken in his way. But now, I think he’s slumping a bit.”
There was a glimmer of hope when Hamilton claimed victory in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier in the season. It seemed to suggest that perhaps the fire was still burning brightly and that Hamilton could still go toe-to-toe with the best. However, any momentum he might have gained was quickly extinguished when Ferrari was disqualified from the main Grand Prix that weekend due to technical irregularities. The excitement of the sprint win gave way to frustration and further questions about the car’s reliability and competitiveness.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has publicly maintained that there is no hierarchy between his drivers and that both Hamilton and Leclerc enjoy equal status within the team. But as the season progresses, the results tell a different story. With Leclerc consistently outperforming his veteran teammate, many are starting to view him as the de facto team leader.
For Coronel, the reality is difficult to deny. “The qualifications, the races, everything,” he said, pointing out that Leclerc’s performance edge has been evident across the board. And in a sport like Formula 1, where performance metrics are constantly scrutinized and internal dynamics often shift based on results, it’s not hard to see how one driver can gradually become the clear lead — even without an official declaration from the team.
Hamilton’s fans, as well as those within the Ferrari camp, had hoped that his switch to Maranello would reignite his form and help the Scuderia challenge Red Bull’s dominance. But with Leclerc delivering stronger results and appearing more at ease with the SF-25, it’s becoming harder to ignore that Hamilton may now be in a support role — one he has rarely, if ever, had to occupy throughout his illustrious career.
The season is still young, and Formula 1 has a way of turning narratives on their heads. But as things stand, the prospect of Lewis Hamilton leading Ferrari’s charge looks more like wishful thinking than imminent reality. For now, it seems that the torch at Ferrari firmly rests in Charles Leclerc’s hands, with Hamilton playing catch-up in unfamiliar territory.