Kevin Magnussen insight could explain Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing struggles at Ferrari with SF-25

The beginning of the 2025 System 1 marketing campaign marked a notable shift within the paddock, with a wave of recent expertise becoming a member of the grid, leading to veteran drivers dropping their seats. Among the many skilled names not racing had been Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and Kevin Magnussen. Sergio Perez has been linked with a possible transfer to Cadillac for the subsequent season, which might see him return to System 1, whereas Bottas transitioned right into a reserve driver function for Mercedes. Following the Miami Grand Prix, Bottas was seen testing one of many staff’s older vehicles. However, Magnussen appears to have no real interest in rejoining the F1 fold after three separate stints within the sport.

Magnussen’s journey in System 1 features a pivotal second when he was one of many drivers vying to switch Lewis Hamilton throughout Hamilton’s McLaren debut in 2014, following Perez’s incapacity to safe a powerful place with the staff. After taking a year-long break in 2015, Magnussen returned to the game with Renault and later had two separate tenures at Haas. Nonetheless, in 2025, Magnussen was changed by Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman at Haas. At the moment, the Danish driver is competing within the World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship. He may even be a part of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi for the distinguished Spa 24 Hours occasion.

At 32 years previous, Magnussen just lately shared his perspective on the stark variations between the present era of System 1 vehicles and people from earlier eras, providing insights that might make clear a number of the challenges Lewis Hamilton has confronted since his transfer to Ferrari this season.

Throughout an interview with The Specific, Kevin Magnussen was requested in regards to the modifications in System 1 since his debut over a decade in the past. He defined that the shift in automobile design was “fairly totally different,” with a major change within the vehicles’ setup, notably the decrease and stiffer designs. The sidewall of the tire had a a lot decrease profile, making the driving expertise really feel notably distinct. In line with Kevin Magnussen, the driving fashion required was additionally altered—whereas the older vehicles allowed drivers to “hustle” them across the monitor, the newer vehicles with floor impact and stiff suspension require a extra deliberate strategy. Magnussen famous that the present vehicles demand a “freestyle” fashion of driving, the place each transfer is extra methodical and measured, in contrast to the freer dealing with of the previous.

This distinction in automobile dealing with has confirmed to be notably difficult for Hamilton, who’s adjusting to Ferrari’s set-up after a protracted profession with Mercedes. The Danish driver’s feedback in regards to the new vehicles’ stiff suspension and the necessity for a extra managed driving fashion would possibly assist clarify why the Briton’s transition to Ferrari hasn’t been as clean as he would have hoped. Whereas Hamilton struggled with qualifying tempo in 2024 and misplaced out to his teammate George Russell in head-to-head battles, his transfer to Ferrari this season has not solved the underlying points. Charles Leclerc continues to keep up a slight benefit when it comes to efficiency, with Hamilton admitting that Ferrari’s totally different brake system is an element affecting his consolation and confidence behind the wheel.

In System 1, even the smallest changes—just like the totally different brake methods utilized by Ferrari—can considerably affect efficiency, particularly when margins between drivers are measured in mere hundredths of a second. Charles Leclerc has been spearheading Ferrari’s automobile set-up selections, and Hamilton is taking time to regulate to those modifications after over a decade of familiarity with Mercedes’ strategy. Kevin Magnussen’s perception in regards to the present automobile’s requirement for a extra disciplined and fewer dynamic driving fashion additional emphasizes the difficulties Hamilton faces in adapting to Ferrari’s distinctive setup. As well as, following Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification on the Chinese language Grand Prix for extreme plank put on, Ferrari needed to increase the journey peak of their SF-25, one other adjustment which will affect Hamilton’s driving expertise.