Lewis Hamilton declares “That person is gone,” shedding despair for a feel‑good Ferrari revival.

In the fading glow of the 2025 Formula One calendar, a spell fell over Lewis Hamilton, a driver often hailed among the sport’s all‑time greats, that rendered him almost unrecognisable. The self‑assurance, wit and steady confidence that usually defined him were stripped away, leaving a near‑desperate confusion.

The shift was so foreign to his normal demeanor that many marveled at his ability to simply carry on until the season’s end. Ahead of the opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Hamilton spoke candidly about experiencing a mental setback.

“I briefly lost sight of who I was,” he admitted. “That version of me is gone; you won’t see it again. It accumulated over time, and that’s normal. Many people go through something similar in their lives. The key is to pick yourself up, assess where you’ve been and return with a constructive mindset.”

The gulf between that gloom and the hopeful buzz surrounding his first year with Ferrari was stark enough to seem theatrical. The excitement of the seven‑time champion slipping into the rosso corsa to finally break Ferrari’s long‑standing title drought evaporated.

Hamilton endured the poorest campaign of his career, finishing sixth in the drivers’ standings, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc, who also out‑qualified him by a wide margin throughout the year. He failed to reach the podium for the first time, and beyond the stark numbers he seemed utterly adrift.

Ferrari’s reluctant car, a weak starter whose development stalled within a month of the season’s launch, proved beyond his reach. His efforts to settle into the new team progressed slowly, and by the finale, a weary and despondent Hamilton labelled the year a “nightmare” and voiced his “anger and rage” at himself.

These eruptions highlighted what makes Hamilton compelling – a willingness to wear his emotions openly, even when it leaves him exposed.

As the season closed, the 41‑year‑old gloomily declared he needed a pause, a chance to “completely unplug from the matrix.” Speculation swirled about whether he would return at all, yet Hamilton has shown he is nothing if not resilient. He spent the off‑season disconnecting, focusing on family, personal matters and a growing relationship with Kim Kardashian.

“The break was genuinely uplifting,” he said. “It was the environment, the people around me. It isn’t my first rodeo, so I understand how to reset. It’s never easy, but I always stress the importance of a positive mental attitude.”

“A lot of it came from training; I’ve put in more work than anyone else. Believing in myself and rediscovering who I am was a huge part of that.”