Lewis Hamilton explains why things are tough at Ferrari as star in limbo

has candidly opened up about his challenging transition to , suggesting the teething problems could persist throughout the 2025 season. After a momentous 12-year stint with Mercedes, Hamilton's switch to Ferrari has been hailed as one of the most significant moves in Formula One history.

Despite clinching victory in a sprint race in Shanghai, Hamilton has yet to secure a top-four finish in any Grand Prix. Worse still, he trails team-mate Charles Leclerc by 16 points in the Drivers' Championship standings heading into race weekend in Miami. The 40-year-old British racing icon has also found himself consistently outpaced in qualifying by Leclerc. Poor Saturday showings are leaving Hamilton with too much to do on race day, setting him up for frustrating races.

Poor Saturday showings are leaving Hamilton with too much to do on race day, setting him up for frustrating races. In the lead-up to the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton drew comparisons between his current situation and his F1 history.

He said: "When I joined Mercedes in 2012, the first six months were tough, getting in tune with all the new people. The engineers I work with now are used to setting up the car for a different driver, and a different driving style, and I am used to driving a car with a different driving style.

"So there are a combination of lots of things. I am working hard to adjust to this car, that's for sure. And I have no clue what to expect in Miami. We will do the best we can."

When asked if he anticipated a repeat of his initial half-year struggle at Mercedes, Hamilton admitted: "I really don't know. I genuinely don't. We are working as hard as we can to shorten that, but it could be longer, who knows?".

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was driven by his ambition to secure an unprecedented eighth World Championship title, but his early days with the Scuderia have not been without their critics.

Hamilton brushed off the critique, stating: "I just don't think about it (the criticism) and not to focus on opinions of people who have no insight as to what is actually going on and insight from individuals that have never been in my position. I will just keep my head down."