George Russell on Ferrari’s 2025 struggle: McLaren dominance limits Hamilton’s wins

George Russell highlights how Lewis Hamilton’s intense win-or-fail mindset and overcompensation may be counterproductive for Ferrari amid McLaren’s current dominance. Despite Hamilton’s efforts, Ferrari’s SF-25 struggles and McLaren’s strong form have capped their victory chances this season.

Sources:
PlanetF1Motorsportweek
Updated 6h ago
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Sources: MotorsportweekPlanetF1
George Russell has offered insight into Lewis Hamilton's challenging 2025 season with Ferrari, attributing the seven-time World Champion's struggles to pushing beyond the SF-25 car's potential amid McLaren's dominance.

"I think when youre a seven-time World Champion, anything less than victory is failure, and youre probably pushing yourself and your team over the top to achieve beyond the potential to try and achieve these great results and potentially counterproductive," Russell told media including Motorsport Week.

Hamilton's only victory this season came in the China Sprint race, and while he outqualified teammate Charles Leclerc in Canada and China, Leclerc leads Ferrari with all three podium finishes and holds a 25-point advantage.

"He did win the Sprint race in China, and in Canada, outqualified new team-mate Charles Leclerc in back-to-back races for the first time, but Leclerc has scored all three of Ferraris podiums so far, and is 25 points up the road," the reports noted.

Currently sixth in the Drivers Championship with 79 points, Hamilton trails just 16 points ahead of Mercedes successor Andrea Kimi Antonelli, highlighting Ferrari's ongoing adaptation issues with the SF-25 chassis.

Russell also pointed to McLaren's continued dominance as a key factor limiting Hamilton's wins this season, stating that he and other competitors are frustrated by McLaren being the "runaway leaders and team to beat."

"Russell cited recent performances as an indicator of Hamiltons capability to still produce brilliance, and said that he, himself and other competitors will naturally be frustrated at the present situation, in which McLaren is still the runaway leaders and team to beat," the sources said.

Hamilton's multi-year deal with Ferrari extends into the major 2026 regulation changes, suggesting the team is banking on future improvements despite current setbacks.

This season underscores the challenges Ferrari faces in balancing driver expectations and car performance amid a competitive field led by McLaren.
Sources: MotorsportweekPlanetF1
George Russell suggests Lewis Hamilton's struggles with Ferrari in 2025 stem from pushing beyond the car's potential amid McLaren's dominance. Despite a China Sprint win, Hamilton trails teammate Charles Leclerc and sits sixth in the championship, highlighting Ferrari's challenges this season.
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Key Facts
  • Lewis Hamilton signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari that extends into the major 2026 chassis and engine regulation changes.PlanetF1
  • Hamilton has struggled with the SF-25 car this season, achieving only one victory in the China Sprint race and currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 79 points.Motorsportweek
  • Hamilton outqualified teammate Charles Leclerc in back-to-back races for the first time this season, but Leclerc has earned all three Ferrari podiums and leads Hamilton by 25 points.PlanetF1
  • George Russell suggested Hamilton’s win-or-fail mentality is pushing himself and Ferrari beyond their potential, which may be counterproductive.PlanetF1Motorsportweek
  • Russell theorized Hamilton is overcompensating in his push to improve results, which he believes is hindering Ferrari’s overall performance.Motorsportweek
  • Russell expressed frustration that McLaren is currently the team to beat, limiting victory chances for Ferrari and other competitors.Motorsportweek
As a seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton could be pushing himself and Ferrari “over the top” and “beyond the potential”, which may have become “counterproductive”.
PlanetF1
PlanetF1
I think when you’re a seven-time World Champion, anything less than victory is failure and you’re probably pushing yourself and your team over the top to achieve beyond the potential to try and achieve these great results and potentially counterproductive,
Motorsportweek
PlanetF1Motorsportweek
Key Stats at a Glance
Points gap between Leclerc and Hamilton
25 points
PlanetF1
Hamilton's points in Drivers' Championship
79 points
Motorsportweek
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