At the Autosport Awards, three-time F1 World Champion Jackie Stewart and former Brawn and Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn shared their views on Lewis Hamilton’s tough 2025 season at Ferrari. The seven-time World Champion did not have the easiest first year at the legendary Italian team. Hamilton concluded the season sitting sixth in the Drivers’ Standings with 156 points, 86 less than teammate Charles Leclerc.
Jackie Stewart was asked by Sky Sports about Lewis Hamilton’s challenge at Ferrari F1, given that he is closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
“He is one of the greatest drivers of all time with a tremendous record in Formula 1. The season that he’s had must have been really difficult for him, and he’s dealt with it quite well. I don’t know how long his contract is. He’ll make his own mind up, whether he wants to retire. We all have to retire at a certain time. I was lucky enough to think as early as April that I was going to retire at the end of the season. That was the right thing for me to do so I think Lewis will decide when it’s right for him to resign from the sport. I think he’ll stay in the sport in some form or another. I hope he does, so let’s wait and see.”
The Formula 1 legend retired as a Champion at the end of the 1973 season. Before his retirement, Stewart won the 1969, 1971 titles and the aforementioned 1973 one. The former Champion still appeared to believe in Hamilton making his way back to the top.
Ross Brawn on Lewis Hamilton turning the Ferrari F1 chapter into a success
When asked about how tough it will be for Lewis Hamilton to recover from his first F1 season in red and turn it into a success, former Ferrari strategy genius Ross Brawn seemed a bit more positive than Jackie Stewart.
“I think we’d all love for him to be successful. I’ve got a special place for Ferrari. I’ve been there 10 years, I know how tough it is there, but it’s always a fine line between a team gelling and not quite gelling, and it didn’t quite gel last year. If he gets some incentives, if he sees there’s an opportunity, I think we’ll see a vintage Lewis, so I’m hoping that happens.”
Additionally, when asked if he believes current Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur is doing a decent job in the circumstances, Brawn said:
“Yeah, I mean what you don’t see, and you can’t judge, is the infrastructure behind Fred, and the engineers, how well they’re working. I don’t know how that’s all functioning, but I think it will be a measure of Fred this year how well they do,” Brawn said.
Vasseur has faced considerable criticism over the past season. Questions have been raised about the Frenchman’s leadership, as Ferrari F1 has not seen significant improvements since he took on the role of Team Principal in 2023. The Scuderia team finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, and the drivers finished fifth and sixth in 2025. He and the drivers will undoubtedly hope for a better season in 2026.
