Red Bull Faces Miami Heat as Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Revealed by Data
The 2025 Formula 1 season is heating up, and the upcoming Miami Grand Prix promises to be a defining moment for both Red Bull and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has issued a stark warning about the team’s prospects, while new data insights into Hamilton’s driving style have exposed why the seven-time world champion is struggling to gel with his Ferrari SF-25. As the paddock braces for a swelteringly unpredictable weekend, the stage is set for McLaren to capitalize on Red Bull’s weaknesses and for Hamilton to face a critical test of adaptation.
Red Bull, despite Max Verstappen’s victories in Japan and a near-win in Saudi Arabia, has been grappling with a car that’s far from perfect. Marko, in his Speedweek column, admitted that the RB21’s narrow operating window doesn’t align with Miami’s expected heat and humidity. “On paper, that’s not an advantage for us,” he stated, reflecting on their struggles in Jeddah where McLaren outpaced them by 8/10ths in warmer conditions during practice. Miami’s track, with its mix of high and low-speed corners, isn’t suited to Red Bull’s strengths, which shine on high-speed circuits. Tire wear, a known weakness for the team, could further compound their woes in the humid Florida climate. Marko emphasized the need to broaden the car’s operating window and address its weaknesses before the European leg of the season, but for now, the team is bracing for a tough fight. McLaren, with their superior tire management and adaptability to varied tracks, looks poised to dominate, potentially stealing the spotlight from Red Bull in what could be a pivotal race for the championship battle.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has hit a rough patch, and data analysis from F1 expert Alex Brundle has pinpointed the root of his struggles. On the F1 Nation podcast, Brundle revealed that Hamilton’s driving trait of applying slightly more brake pressure into high-speed corners—a habit consistent across his career—disrupts the Ferrari SF-25’s balance. “It just upsets the Ferrari everywhere,” Brundle noted, highlighting how this contrasts with teammate Charles Leclerc’s smoother braking style. While Hamilton secured a sprint race win in China, his Grand Prix performances have lagged behind Leclerc, with the Brit unable to match his teammate’s pace. This braking issue, which also plagued Hamilton at Mercedes, causes the car to lose stability, costing him valuable time. The challenge for Hamilton is significant: as he pushes for more speed, his instinct to brake harder only exacerbates the problem, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of declining performance.
Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari’s car dynamics is crucial if he hopes to challenge for the title in his debut season with the Scuderia. The Miami Grand Prix, with its demanding track layout and environmental conditions, will test his ability to adjust this ingrained trait. For Ferrari, the stakes are high as they aim to close the gap to Red Bull and McLaren in the constructors’ standings. Red Bull, on the other hand, faces a weekend where their championship lead could be under threat if McLaren capitalizes on their struggles. As the F1 circus descends on Miami, all eyes will be on whether Verstappen can defy the odds, if McLaren can seize their moment, and how Hamilton will tackle the steep learning curve at Ferrari. The 2025 season is shaping up to be a thrilling battle, and Miami might just be the race that shifts the momentum.
