Why Häkkinen thinks Hamilton’s Ferrari success ‘could take years’

Two-time F1 world champion Mika Häkkinen believes that Lewis Hamilton’s road to success at Ferrari could be a long one – possibly stretching over several years – as the seven-time champion continues to adapt to life in red.

Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has fallen well short of expectations. With just six rounds remaining in the 2025 campaign, the Scuderia has yet to taste victory while Hamilton is still chasing his first podium since making the high-profile switch from Mercedes.

According to Häkkinen, however, the Briton’s struggles are far from unusual for a driver stepping into a new team.

“First of all, Lewis is just an incredible racing driver,” Häkkinen said in an interview with Hindustan Times/FanCode. “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 four to five years until you can make the car to fit your driving style. 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.”

Ferrari’s Growing Pains – and What Comes Next

Hamilton has openly acknowledged that he hasn’t felt fully “at one” with Ferrari’s SF-25, and Häkkinen’s assessment suggests there’s no quick fix. The 1998 and 1999 world champion noted that shaping a car to suit a driver’s strengths is rarely an instant process – even for the very best.

But the challenge could become even more complex next season, with sweeping 2026 regulation changes set to transform both chassis and engine design.

“The cars are technically changing a lot for next year,” Häkkinen noted. “The very experienced designers can develop a fantastic car.

“Drivers will probably have to change their skills a little bit. They will need to focus very hard to keep the car on track as the cars can become very difficult to drive next year.

“The teams which have good designers who are able to build a great car, they’re going to do well. Teams who are not so experienced will have a lot of problems.”

• Read also: Hamilton insists Ferrari is ‘going from strength to strength’ – really?

For Ferrari and Hamilton, the message from Häkkinen is clear: progress will take patience.

With the 2026 F1 overhaul set to reshape the sport, the Briton’s long-term prospects are likely to depend as much on Maranello’s engineering muscle as on his trademark determination behind the wheel.

If Häkkinen’s timeline proves right, the Tifosi may need to settle in for the long haul – and hope that when Hamilton and Ferrari finally click, the wait will have been worth it.

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