Lewis Hamilton speaking with the media during the Singapore Grand Prix - Photo: RacePictures.

Hamilton's Ferrari ambitions hit with shock half a decade timeline

15:34, 13 Oct

Updated: 17:24, 13 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Mika Hakkinen has come to "unbelievable" Lewis Hamilton's defence arguing a driver's full adaptation period in a team can take up to half a decade.

When you come to a new team, normally it can take 4-5 years until you can make the car to fit your driving style.

- Mika Hakkinen

Given Ferrari's end to the 2024 season, with Hamilton making the switch from Mercedes over to the Scuderia, it was believed the Italians and the Briton would make a charge for the championship in 2025.

The season, however, has unfolded very differently, with Ferrari still unable to win a Grand Prix this year and with the seven-time world champion struggling to adapt fully to the SF-25.

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, former McLaren champion, Hakkinen, argued that a driver's full acclimatisation at a new team could take up to half a decade.

Lewis Hamilton driving during the Singapore Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

He said: "First of all, Lewis is just an incredible racing driver. He has succeeded in his career over the years, taking all the pressure that he’s been experiencing. It’s just unbelievable.

"When you come to a new team, normally it can take 4-5 years until you can make the car to fit your driving style."

According to the Finn, Hamilton must ready himself for said timeline.

"Thus, Lewis has to have the patience to wait for such a long time. You normally don’t jump in the team and the car and say, ‘Oh, this car is fantastic. I’m going to win races.’ It requires a lot of work and a long time," Hakkinen concluded.

Lewis Hamilton giving Ferrari the okay in Singapore. Photo: RacePictures.

Hamilton is on the rise at Ferrari?

After a woeful finish to the first half of the season, Hamilton seems to have found his mojo when F1 returned from the summer break, with the Dutch, Italian, Azerbaijani and Singaporean Grands Prix, all seeing him qualify either very close or ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Last time out in Singapore Hamilton would've been able to clinch a top 5 result were it not for the brake issues both Ferrari's were affected by throughout the race, which ended up costing Hamilton three positions overall, following a post-race time penalty and an angry Fernando Alonso reproach on the onboard radio.

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