Davidson: Ground-effect F1 cars stripped Hamilton of ‘natural feeling’

Lewis Hamilton’s challenging debut season with Ferrari has been debated at length across the Formula 1 paddock, and former driver and Sky F1 analyst Anthony Davidson believes the seven-time world champion’s current difficulties can be traced back to the dawn of the sport's ground-effect era.

Hamilton’s high-profile switch to the Scuderia for 2025 was heralded as a bold new chapter in his career, yet the first 14 races of the season have been anything but triumphant.

Despite a sprint race victory in China, Hamilton remains without a Grand Prix podium in Maranello red, with the SF-25 proving a tricky machine to master.

The Briton’s struggles were laid bare in Hungary, where he described himself as “useless” after a Q2 exit while teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole.

Davidson has admitted he finds it hard to reconcile Hamilton’s pedigree with his current form.

“Unbelievable” Downturn

"It pains me to have to mention Lewis Hamilton's name here. Unbelievable actually that I would ever have to say this in an analysis,” Davidson told Dutch website Formule1 as he reflected on the Briton’s woes.

"But we heard in Budapest what all he said about himself. It's sad when you hear a sportsman with such a tremendous track record doubting himself so much.”

The former F1 driver also highlighted the broader implications for Ferrari.

"It's also a big concern for the team. What is happening now is what a lot of people thought was going to happen,” he added.

"You can maybe compare it a little bit to Valentino Rossi's move to Ducati. But you can take an important lesson from it: nothing can be taken for granted.

"No one is a superman, everyone is vulnerable and fragile. Nothing lasts forever. It may be that it is so difficult for a driver to adapt to a new car."

Davidson’s comparison to MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi underscores the magnitude of Hamilton’s challenge, as Rossi famously endured a fruitless spell at Ducati after years of domination elsewhere.

Roots of the Struggle: The 2022 Regulations

While Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari’s 2025 car and team dynamics has been a hurdle, Davidson believes the root of his difficulties traces back to the 2022 season, when Formula 1 introduced its current generation of ground-effect cars.

These regulations, designed to improve racing by increasing aerodynamic downforce through underbody tunnels, have altered the driving dynamics significantly, something Davidson experienced firsthand as a development and sim driver for Mercedes in recent seasons.

"For me, since the new regulations introduced in 2022, Lewis has never been the same, although I sometimes see the old Lewis back in the races," Davidson explained.

"He never had that natural feeling and total control in the car anymore."

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Hamilton’s discomfort with these cars has been evident, with only flashes of his former brilliance shining through in select races.

Davidson remains cautiously optimistic, however, suggesting that a reset could come with the new power unit regulations set for 2026.

"But if he stays, keeps his head above water and gets himself up, he may be back in the race next year with the new cars. I hope he comes out," he said.

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