Ferrari’s Enormous Lewis Hamilton Gamble Yet to Pay Off

Five races into the 2025 Formula One season, Ferrari’s high-priced Lewis Hamilton experiment is not yet paying dividends. 

While it’s unclear exactly how much money the winningest manufacturer in F1 history has committed to the seven-time drivers’ champion, we know it’s a lot. On the low end, various reports estimate Ferrari is paying Hamilton a $60 million salary, with some speculating his deal is worth $100 million annually.

But Hamilton, 40, who became an international star on and off the grid while driving for Mercedes from 2013 to 2024, arrives at the Miami Grand Prix still searching for his first podium finish with Ferrari. His best result so far was fifth place in Bahrain. 

Hamilton is seventh in the driver standings, two spots behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari sits fourth in the team standings, two spots below their second-place finish in 2024. Ferrari has won 16 constructors’ titles all-time, but none since 2008. 

F1’s New Era

McLaren appears to be the rising top dog, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris atop the driver standings, following McLaren’s 2024 team title. McLaren Racing is led by CEO Zak Brown, the only American team boss in F1.

Still lurking, though, is four-time defending drivers champion Max Verstappen, who is in third place. However, his Red Bull team does not figure to be a threat in the constructors’ fight, after replacing the struggling Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, who has suited up for Red Bull the past three races.

There is plenty of time for things to change, though. The season is barely one-fifth of the way done, as F1 once again has a record 24 races on its worldwide schedule.