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Expectations were high when Hamilton signed to Ferrari yet at the mid-point of 2025 the seven-time champion hadn't had a sniff of a podium. Adam Cooper explains what went wrong

- Adam Cooper

On paper Lewis Hamilton's move to Scuderia Ferrari appeared to be a case of perfect timing; it wouldn't be long, so we thought, before he'd be challenging for race wins.

When he signed in January last year the Maranello team had just finished third in the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship with 406 points, having scored one win in a season dominated by Red Bull.

He then watched with interest as his future employers moved up to second place last year on 652 points, with Charles Leclerc and the departing Carlos Sainz logging five victories between them. The team seemingly had momentum on its side.

Having spent three years struggling with a series of tricky Mercedes 'divas' Hamilton could be forgiven for thinking that - as with his decision to leave McLaren at the end of 2012 - he was heading to the right place at the right time.

The reality has proved to be rather different. Not only did he fail to win a full-length race in the first half of the 2025 season, but he also didn't log a podium finish.

Amid the obvious frustration there have been flashes of promise. He won the Shanghai sprint from pole on only his second weekend, and after some sessions and races he's had a smile on his face as he's reported apparent signs of progress.

However at times it's appeared to be a case of one step forwards and two back as he's tried to find his way, and inevitably his results have had some observers asking if his best days are now behind him.

So what hasn't worked out so far for Lewis? Why has it gone wrong? And what hope is there for a turnaround in the second half of the season and into next year?