Lewis Hamilton has said that "Rome wasn't built in a day" in response to continued questions on Ferrari's disappointing 2025 season.

After making the seismic move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, the seven-time world champion has struggled in his debut campaign with the Italian team, scoring just 146 points across 20 Grands Prix, without a Grand Prix podium to his name.

Such has been the struggle for the 40-year-old in 2025, rumours started to swirl that Ferrari would not offer Hamilton a contract extension after the 2026 season due to his performances.

"I knew that aligning our brands would be big. But it still hits you and you’re like, 'This is even more powerful than I imagined,'" Hamilton said to Ferrari Magazine, commenting on when he first made the move to the Scuderia.

Lewis Hamilton battling with Max Verstappen at the Mexico City Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"It’s beautiful, and there have been plenty of positives, although a lot of responsibility and weight come with it. Everyone expects to win straight away, but ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’"

Hamilton also stated that only certain people understand that progress in F1 is not a quick fix: "It's not that many people. Only when you’re inside a team can you really, truly understand how it works and how F1 works.

"You can’t imagine how the machine really operates otherwise. I’ve been in F1 for so long, but when I came to this team, it really was different again.

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Hamilton has yet to secure a Grand Prix podium in his debut season with the Scuderia, meaning Hamilton will finish with less than five podiums in a season for the first time in his illustrious career.

However, team principal Frederic Vasseur has stated that he is "pleased" with the Brit's pace as Ferrari battles with Mercedes and Red Bull for P2 in the constructors' championship, something that could be a catalyst for both team and driver for the 2026 season.

"I don’t blame people for not knowing. All I can do is continue to focus on the things that I can control. How I prepare and work with the team. How I show up each day and stay positive," concluded Hamilton.

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