Hamilton fans back podium bid as Ferrari’s brake trouble dominates second-half chatter
After 14 races in 2025, Lewis Hamilton remains podium-less for Ferrari, with a best finish of fourth at Imola, Austria, and also at his home British Grand Prix. It marks the first time in his career he has failed to reach a podium before the summer break.
The 200-time podium finisher also finds himself enduring the longest spell without a grand prix podium in his career, with 16 races since finishing second at the 2024 Las Vegas GP for Mercedes.
Ferrari’s woes have been well documented this year, with brakes cited as a particular sticking point. Ferrari’s brake system uses Brembo materials, in contrast to the Carbon Industrie components used by Mercedes, a difference that has fed fan and pundit speculation about performance.
After a tough Hungary qualifying left him 12th on the grid, Hamilton said he felt “useless” and urged Ferrari to consider “another driver.” He went on to finish 12th in that race, but signaled he would be ready for the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break, with fans largely backing him to end the podium drought at some stage.
A fan poll circulated online showed a spread of views. The plurality believed Hamilton would secure just a single podium across the remainder of the season, capturing 31.92% of votes. However, a strong majority — 72.8% — still expected him to take a podium at least once, while about 22.69% thought the season would pass without a podium for the seven-time champion.
The countdown to the Dutch Grand Prix has fans hopeful that Hamilton’s experience, combined with any Ferrari upgrades, could reignite the challenge in the second half of the year. Look out for the next poll to see how opinions shift as teams return to action after the summer break.
Summary and context:
– Hamilton has yet to podium in 2025 for Ferrari after 14 races.
– Ferrari’s brake system has been a notable area of concern.
– A recent Hungary setback did little to dampen fan optimism for a late-season podium.
– Poll results show a split but a leaning expectation that a podium is plausible this season.
Additional value:
– If Ferrari can translate brake improvements into performance gains, Hamilton’s racecraft and experience could turn potential into results more quickly than expected.
– The Dutch Grand Prix could become a pivotal moment for both Hamilton and Ferrari as the season restarts, with momentum a key factor in the final stretch.