Lewis Hamilton's much-hyped arrival at Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season was expected to ignite a new era for the Scuderia, but instead has fueled unease and skepticism within the paddock.

Ferrari’s SF-25 has failed to deliver, proving the weakest car of the current ground effect regulations, and Hamilton remains without a podium through the season’s first 17 rounds.

The continued struggles came to a head at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished a lackluster eighth and ninth, intensifying pressure on the team's new driver pairing.

Ex-Formula 1 racer Ralf Schumacher, offering insight on Sky Germany, underscored that the working relationship between Hamilton and Ferrari is increasingly fraught. Schumacher observed cracks in the partnership, pointing to both on-track decisions and visible discontent between the British champion and Ferrari’s pit wall.

“The way they treat each other isn’t good… and then there’s Lewis’s criticism of the team,” Schumacher commented, suggesting that prolonged mistrust could ultimately force the two parties to part ways if no progress is made.

Team Orders and Internal Strain

A flashpoint for tensions emerged in Baku, where Ferrari’s strategic split (medium tires for Leclerc, hard for Hamilton) did little to boost morale. As the race played out, Leclerc, hindered after an early stop, was instructed to let Hamilton by in pursuit of points. The plan to swap back on the final lap fell apart when Hamilton delayed the maneuver, leading to internal frustration and post-race scrutiny.

While the incident ultimately held little consequence for a lowly finish, it exposed deeper wounds about collaboration and respect within the team. Leclerc downplayed the episode: "For a P8 or a P9 it's not going to be a big talking point," but hinted that the team must clarify rules and reinforce trust to prevent further breakdowns. 

Schumacher's assessment is stark: “If Lewis no longer has trust in the team, and vice versa, that would be a great shame. Because if mistrust develops, then it’s better to let it go and go our separate ways at the end of the year.”

Future Uncertain as Frustrations Mount

For Ferrari, the internal discord threatens to overshadow technical development and on-track results. The team, long seeking a path back to title contention, now faces questions not just about performance, but about culture and communication.

For Hamilton, acclimatizing to life in red has proven more difficult than anticipated, with each missed opportunity amplifying doubts about the project’s long-term viability.