F1 pundit reveals secret hope as Hamilton-Ferrari's pairing has yet to deliver

It’s no secret that many – if not all – were hoping to see Lewis Hamilton back at his best in 2025, ideally fighting for the title with Ferrari: the final major project of his career, embraced after 12 unforgettable years with Mercedes. However, the prestigious partnership has so far failed to deliver the expected results.

After ten races, the seven-time world champion has yet to step onto the podium with his new team, and the comparison with Charles Leclerc paints a rather stark picture when looking at their on-track performances.

In a broadcast of Ziggo Sport, Dutch former racing driver Robert Doornbos said on the matter: “I secretly hoped there was a glimmer of hope he would become champion with Ferrari. That he would get the tools, that he would shape the team to his will.”

In practice, however, this has not been the case. Doornbos points out several issues, including poor communication and subpar pit stops. But why is that? According to the former driver, it’s difficult to identify a clear reason.

“It was almost an English organization operating out of Italy. Now you have a Frenchman leading, operating in Italy, with a French-speaking driver and an Englishman who comes in with a lot of baggage. Someone who doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but also is not fast enough,'' Doornbos added.

It was suggested last week that Ferrari is considering opening a department in the United Kingdom. But whether that's necessary, but Doornbos is skeptical about it: “I think you can achieve it from Maranello, but you need a different type of mindset,”