Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has sparked intense speculation about the state of his relationship with the iconic team, but according to Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari’s head of track engineering, the narrative is far more positive than it appears. Despite the tumultuous atmosphere surrounding their collaboration, Togninalli asserts that any perceived friction is largely exaggerated, pointing to an underestimation of the adaptation period required for both Hamilton and Ferrari.
As the early months of 2025 unfolded, Hamilton found himself needing to clarify the often terse exchanges with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. He emphasized that “there were no issues” between them, yet the radio communications continued to fuel speculation about their chemistry. Hamilton quickly countered claims of discord by highlighting that even Max Verstappen has moments of abruptness with his own engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.
Togninalli offered insight into the challenges faced when a driver of Hamilton’s caliber transitions from a long-standing position at Mercedes to a new team environment. “Changing drivers and changing teams, mainly for a driver like Lewis, who has spent 10 years in the same team, has a certain level of experience, is very difficult from both sides,” he explained. Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes, where he enjoyed incredible success, to Ferrari has been laden with pressure, especially given the team’s struggles to compete for championships this season.
The frustrations stemming from the team’s performance have painted a misleading picture of Hamilton’s rapport with Ferrari. Togninalli insists that the relationship is developing positively, stating, “I think what you see from outside is quite worse than what it is.” He believes that despite the hurdles, a strong bond is already forming: “After 10 months, I think we have already a very, very strong link with him.”
However, the reality is that Ferrari has faced significant challenges on the track, failing to clinch a grand prix victory in 2025 and finishing a staggering 435 points behind the reigning champions, McLaren. Both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc ended the season in the middle of the drivers’ standings, a far cry from the podium finishes expected from the historic team.
The root of Ferrari’s struggles primarily lies in their difficulties with tire preparation during qualifying. Togninalli noted that while the SF-25’s race pace has shown potential, their inconsistent qualifying performances have become a critical weakness. The introduction of the 2025 Pirelli compounds, noted for their durability but sensitivity to overheating, has complicated the tire management process, significantly impacting their ability to secure favorable starting positions.
“90% of the job this year is done in qualifying; if you start in front, you finish in front,” Togninalli emphasized, highlighting that 16 of the 24 races were won from pole position. The competitive landscape is unforgiving; starting from the back of the grid makes overtaking nearly impossible without a drastic strategy change. He cited specific instances, such as the incident in Las Vegas that hindered Hamilton’s qualifying performance, illustrating how situational factors have contributed to their overall struggles.
As the team reflects on their season, the focus remains on mastering tire performance and adapting to the competitive demands of Formula 1. Togninalli’s optimism shines through as he reassures fans that the relationship with Hamilton will improve over time, despite the current challenges. In a sport where perception can often overshadow reality, the truth about Ferrari and Hamilton may be more hopeful than it seems, setting the stage for a thrilling future as they work to turn things around.
