Lewis Hamilton delivers honest admission to frustrated Ferrari fans amid F1 struggles

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he "doesn't blame" Ferrari fans for their disappointment over the seven-time Formula 1 champion's difficulties this year. The Brit, 40, has found it difficult to adapt to his new machinery while the team has also not been as competitive as they would have liked, and are the only one of the top four outfits yet to win a Grand Prix in 2025.

Moving teams in F1 is never a simple task, especially if the team you are joining uses different engines and brakes manufacturers to what a driver is used to, as has been the case for Hamilton switching from Mercedes machinery to Ferrari. Add in the cultural differences and some language barriers and it is easy to understand why it has taken the Brit some time to bed in at Maranello.

And Hamilton referenced that as he conceded that "not many people" know just how tough such a transition can be. He told the official Ferrari magazine: "I knew that aligning our brands would be big, but it still hits you and you're like, 'This is even more powerful than I imagined'.

"It's beautiful and there have been plenty of positives, although a lot of responsibility and weight comes with it. Everyone expects to win straight away, but Rome wasn't built in a day. Only when you're inside a team can you really, truly understand how it works and how F1 works. You can't imagine how the machine really operates otherwise.

"I've been in F1 for so long, but when I came to this team it really was different again. So I don't blame people for not knowing. All I can do is continue to focus on the things that I can control: How I prepare and work with the team, how I show up each day and stay positive."

While he is committed to trying to become the sport's only eight-time champion, Hamilton has plenty of projects away from the F1 track. Hamilton owns multiple businesses, has a stake in the NFL franchise the Denver Broncos and also runs his own charity, Mission 44, through which he uses the platform he has to try to remove barriers that young people from different backgrounds face.

Hamilton has been accused in the past of being distracted by those other ventures, but insists such inspirational projects help to keep him motivated on track. He said: "You've got to have a creative balance. You can't just work every hour of your life because you'll be miserable. How do you find things that inspire you and keep you uplifted? Tapping into your creativity is one way."

His Hollywood production company, Dawn Apollo Films, enjoyed success with its role in bringing F1: The Movie to movie theatres around the world and that project in particular brought Hamilton plenty of satisfaction. He added: "To have real involvement in the film and to be able to engage so fully in the process was crazy.

"Joe [Kosinski, director] came to me and said, 'I'm thinking about doing this movie, I would love to get Brad Pitt'. We didn't have him at that point and I helped bridge some gaps and be part of it to the point where the end credits roll. I spent time in the edit and watched sections of the film on my laptop and sent notes. I met with [composer] Hans Zimmer in his amazing studio in Santa Monica. What a four years it's been, and what a privilege."