‘Killer Trait’: Why Hamilton's style may be damaging his Ferrari form

F1 TV commentator Alex Brundle has identified a specific trait in Lewis Hamilton’s driving style that he believes may be fundamentally at odds with the behaviour of Ferrari’s SF-25 car.

Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move from Mercedes to Ferrari was meant to revive his quest for a record-breaking eighth world title – but early signs in 2025 suggest that the transition is proving more complex than anticipated.

Brundle, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, revealed he has been closely studying Hamilton’s data throughout the opening rounds of the season and sees a recurring pattern – particularly in how the seven-time world champion uses the brakes in high-speed corners.

A Data-Driven Diagnosis

“He has talked about moving the car towards him. And he’s talked about moving himself towards the car,” Brundle explained.

“I look at the data from Lewis every weekend. The trait is the same. He goes into high-speed corners and hits a little bit more brake pressure than Charles Leclerc.”

That difference, however minor it may seem, has significant consequences in a car like the SF-25, according to the son of Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle.

“You can draw a line directly up the wheel-speed graph, to the steering trace, and the brake aligns perfectly with a tiny bit of movement,” Brundle continued. “It just upsets the Ferrari everywhere.”

By contrast, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc is managing these sections with precision: “Leclerc is just Mr. Measured on the brakes.”

Brundle pointed out that this isn’t a new issue for Hamilton either, referencing similar problems during his final seasons at Mercedes, which raises questions about adaptability.

“We know that Lewis had a problem with the same thing, I saw the data, at Mercedes,” added Brundle.

“Can he coach himself out of a lifetime’s worth of driving technique to move towards the car? We will find out.”

Instinct, Pressure, and the Spiral of Mistakes

Hamilton’s predicament is further compounded by the nature of today’s F1 machinery, which requires instant decisions and instinctive reactions—something highlighted by McLaren team boss Andrea Stella earlier this season.

For the seven-time world champion, that reality may be working against him as he tries to reprogram his instincts so late in his career.

Brundle underscored this point with a stark warning.

“It’s a killer trait to have in a car, especially if you're behind. Because you look for the time, and it punishes you again. It gets worse and worse,” he argued.

Hamilton’s results so far in 2025 reflect the difficulty of his adaptation. He has yet to out-perform Leclerc in a grand prix across five rounds, and his qualifying struggles – an issue carried over from his final season alongside George Russell at Mercedes – remain unresolved.

His post-race interviews have grown more despondent, with Hamilton acknowledging the “painful” form but offering no timeline for a turnaround.

Despite the obvious challenges, he has refused to blame the car for his underperformance, insisting the onus is on him.

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s own qualifying form has been under scrutiny, with Leclerc conceding that both drivers’ struggles on Saturdays are limiting their potential on Sundays.

• Read also: Insider Marc Gene reveals Hamilton’s real impact at Ferrari

Brundle offered a final comparison to Carlos Sainz—now with Williams—as an example of adaptability.

“Look at Carlos Sainz at Williams. He has completely engaged with their way of doing. Lewis is still behind the game at Ferrari so you wonder if it is going to be possible,” he said.

Whether Hamilton can recalibrate his style after years of success built on instinct is one of the defining questions of the season – and it could determine whether his Ferrari chapter ends in redemption or regret.

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