Fernando Alonso Backs Hamilton: "He Can Turn Things Around Quickly"
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has struggled in the first half of the 2025 Formula One season, though former teammate Fernando Alonso backed Hamilton to rediscover his form.
When Hamilton broke into F1, his first teammate was Fernando Alonso, a top-tier, established driver on the grid.
Alonso got a first-hand account of Hamilton's abilities early on, and while they would naturally develop into rivals, a mutual respect for their abilities matured.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari speaks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 12, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari speaks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 12, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec.
Photo byThe Spanish driver is uniquely suited to speak about what Hamilton is going through, being one of the older drivers on the grid, like Hamilton, and having driven for the famed Scuderia.
"What's wrong with him? I have no idea. Lewis is a great driver; on tracks like Canada, he's capable of exploiting all his strengths," Alonso told the media in Montreal.
"After 24 races, we'll do the math: he's struggling now, but he can turn things around very quickly.
"I don't think the situation has changed much compared to last year with Russell. Then, the Mercedes was apparently difficult to drive and Russell was more comfortable. This year seems to be the same. But it's difficult to give an opinion without having all the information."
Through the first nine races, Hamilton scored 71 points, which is good for sixth place in the driver standings.
Ferrari, despite their woes, are in second place with regards to the constructors' standings, though already nearly 200 points down on the leading McLaren team.
Considering how the car has stacked up to the rest of the field, Ferrari should be happy about where they stand, but pre-season expectations were set much higher than where the driver and team are now.
Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, made the shocking decision to leave his long-time home at Mercedes to achieve his dream of driving for Ferrari.
Arguably the biggest driver joining the historic team naturally came with a lot of hype and anticipation.
Many expected both to hit the ground running in 2025, fighting for both titles, but in reality, Ferrari is still looking for their first race win of the season.
His track record consistently shows Hamilton has overcome any adversity he faced. In the latest chapter of his career, he will need to do the same once again.
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