Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Documents Spark Harsh Vettel Comparison
Lewis Hamilton’s much-hyped move to Ferrari has taken a troubling turn, with former team principal Maurizio Arrivabene delivering a blunt verdict on the seven-time world champion’s approach. According to Arrivabene, Hamilton’s internal “documents” sent to Ferrari management are a sign that the partnership may already be “over.”
Even more damning, Maurizio Arrivabene compared Lewis Hamilton’s actions to those of Sebastian Vettel, whose similar attempts to influence Ferrari from within were dismissed as “almost useless.”
A Nightmare First Season in Red
Lewis Hamilton’s debut campaign with Ferrari in F1 2025 was statistically the worst of his illustrious career. For the first time, the Brit failed to score a single podium finish, ending the season 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The SF-25 proved difficult to extract performance from, and Hamilton visibly struggled to adapt as the season unraveled.
At 40, approaching 41, Lewis Hamilton responded by becoming more hands-on. Over the course of the year, he submitted multiple detailed dossiers to Ferrari outlining suggested improvements—ranging from car development philosophy to inter-department communication and race weekend execution.
Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari: Decline or Transition? Inside F1’s Most Watched Career Shift
Arrivabene: “When a Driver Plays Engineer, It’s Over”
Maurizio Arrivabene, who led Ferrari from 2015 to 2018, was unmoved. Speaking to Sky Italy, he revealed Vettel had done much the same during his own Ferrari stint.
“Sebastian Vettel also sent such dossiers. He wrote, spoke and shared everything,” Arrivabene said.
On their impact? “Almost useless.”
His warning to Lewis Hamilton was stark:
“When a driver starts playing engineer, that’s it. Then it’s really over.”
Maurizio Arrivabene stressed that while drivers can offer valuable on-track feedback, attempting to influence engineering or organisational structures is counterproductive. “The devil is in the details,” he explained, arguing that drivers lack the full technical picture required to enact meaningful change.
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari 2025
History Repeating Itself at Ferrari?
The parallels are hard to ignore. Sebastian Vettel arrived at Ferrari as a four-time world champion and left without a title. Fernando Alonso suffered a similar fate. Hamilton himself admitted he was determined not to repeat their failures—yet Arrivabene believes he has fallen into the same trap.
Ferrari president John Elkann recently echoed these sentiments, urging both Hamilton and Leclerc to “focus on driving” and “talk less” following a disastrous Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
Vettel’s Cautious Advice to Hamilton
Ironically, Lewis Hamilton sought advice from Sebastian Vettel before joining Ferrari, even adopting the German’s habit of making handwritten notes during testing. Vettel, however, has since warned that success at Ferrari requires perfect alignment.
“The longer it takes, the harder it becomes,” Vettel said on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.
“You need the team, the people, and the timing all in the sweet spot.”
What Comes Next for Hamilton and Ferrari?
Despite the bleak outlook, Charles Leclerc insists Hamilton’s motivation remains intact, and the team hopes to reset ahead of 2026. Still, Arrivabene’s comments have intensified scrutiny around Hamilton’s Ferrari future.
Whether the documents signal leadership—or desperation—may define whether Hamilton’s quest for an eighth world title ends in triumph or regret.
