Lewis Hamilton tells Ferrari how it can 'get closer' to F1 rivals

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari can "get a bit closer" to its F1 rivals if it simply lowers the ride height of the SF25 to unlock more performance.

With the exception of the Chinese GP Sprint, Hamilton's debut season at Ferrari has been underwhelming, with the 202-time podium visitor yet to record his first top-three finish in a grand prix for the Scuderia, taking a best of fourth at Imola, in Austria and at Silverstone.

Following his win in the shorter Shanghai race, Hamilton was expelled from the main GP after the plank wear on his car was found to have exceeded the tolerance, with Ferrari having to raise the rear of the car to avoid similar disqualifications.

With the ground effect rules, raising the ride height costs performance, with Ferrari locked in a fight with Mercedes and Red Bull for second place in the constructors', with 18 points separating the three teams. 

Hamilton does not expect Ferrari to be in contention for grand prix victories on pure pace, but believes lowering the car could get the team back in the mix.

"I don't personally feel like these last races really have much bearing on next year," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365. 

"Of course, the goal is to see progress and continue to work, but the more I experience with the team, the more I grow with the team; that experience always will pay dividends.

"Moving forward, the things that we're learning, whatever lessons that we're faced with, it will definitely help in the future.

"I don't think there is any track we will be able to beat the McLarens, or maybe the Red Bull, they're just ahead.

"They're ahead at every track, so I don't anticipate anything changing, but if we managed to maximise the performance of the car, which is ultimately making the car lower, then maybe we can get a bit closer."