India, March 13 -- When you think of Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, the first image that crops up in your head is the seven-time world champion standing in front of Enzo Ferrari's old home in Maranello with the classic F40 in the background.

Clicked in February 2025, it is quite an iconic image, depicting probably the most blockbuster signing in Formula 1 history - the world's most successful driver joining not just the world's most triumphant team but perhaps the biggest brand in all motorsport.

But barring one sprint race in Shanghai that the Briton won, the Ferrari-Hamilton combine turned out to be quite a damp squib last year. The 41-year-old did not reach the podium even once - the first time that has happened in Hamilton's F1 career,...