Even champions need a reset! Lewis Hamilton reveals the immense pressure of his first Ferrari F1 season, confessing he’s been struggling to find the fun. Can a fresh mindset at the Dutch Grand Prix turn things around for the racing legend? You won’t believe what he said about his team’s performance!

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is publicly striving to reignite his passion for driving a Formula 1 car, navigating what has proven to be a challenging inaugural season with Ferrari. This crucial period sees the seasoned driver aiming for a significant personal and professional reset, seeking to find enjoyment amidst the intense pressures of top-tier motorsport as the season progresses towards its critical final races.

Hamilton’s frustrations became particularly evident at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where a disappointing qualifying performance led him to label his efforts “absolutely useless” and even question his suitability for the Italian team. This stark self-assessment came in the wake of his teammate, Charles Leclerc, securing pole position, further highlighting the performance disparity and increasing scrutiny on Hamilton’s adaptation to the Ferrari machinery.

Following the mid-season break, Hamilton addressed the media ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, characterizing the hiatus as a vital “reset” period. He articulated a clear vision for improvement over the remaining 10 races of the 2025 Formula 1 season, emphasizing a renewed commitment to hard work and strategic adjustments to overcome the team’s ongoing hurdles and enhance overall driver performance.

The British driver candidly expressed his intent to “work hard, keep my head down, try to change a few things in our approach and start to enjoy ourselves.” He acknowledged the immense pressure experienced during the first half of the season, describing it as less than enjoyable, and reiterated the fundamental importance of rediscovering the love for racing, stressing a collective team effort.

Despite a sprint race victory in China earlier in March, Hamilton has yet to achieve a grand prix podium finish for Ferrari, a clear indicator of the team’s struggles with car setup and overall team strategy. This inability to consistently challenge rivals like McLaren for the championship has intensified the spotlight on both Hamilton’s individual performance and Ferrari’s broader championship aspirations, creating a complex challenge for the iconic constructor.

As Formula 1 teams begin to incrementally shift their focus towards the substantial regulation changes anticipated in 2026, Hamilton underscored the necessity of reverting to the core elements that define the thrill of driving an F1 car. He noted that the constant “noise” surrounding his high-profile move can often obscure the truly vital aspects of competitive racing and personal fulfillment.

Hamilton reflected on his long-held dream of joining Ferrari, a move that he feels has been partially overshadowed by external pressures and media attention. He articulated a desire to cut through this “noise” to fully embrace and enjoy the experience of driving for the team he has always aspired to represent, aiming for a more harmonious and effective collaboration.

Offering a contrasting perspective, Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate, George Russell, defended the seven-time world champion. Russell cited Hamilton’s earlier sprint win as unequivocal proof that he “clearly still got it,” suggesting that his self-critical comments made in Hungary were likely a reflection of intense frustration rather than a true assessment of his enduring talent and skill in Formula 1 racing challenges.