Ferrari has been warned by ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard that Lewis Hamilton‘s recent form has been “pretty worrying” as he prepares for his first season with the team.
Hamilton arrived in Italy last week to a passionate partisan crowd at its Fiorano test track, as the seven-time World Champion limbers up for his 19th season in the sport with the Scuderia.
The Briton has endured, by his own high standards, a poor period over the last few years, as he struggled to cope with an underperforming Mercedes car, which has been more suited to team-mate George Russell, who has finished above Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship twice in the three seasons the two were paired together.
In 2024, Hamilton’s Achilles’ heel was over one lap, seeing his races compromised through disappointing qualifying performances, prompting Coulthard to describe him to Viaplay as the season’s “biggest disappointment”.
Coulthard, speaking separately to Channel 4 – for whom he is an analyst – also described Hamilton’s recent driving as “out of sorts,” adding: “Lewis is a winning machine, he’s broken all the records, but this isn’t a personality contest, it’s not an opinion contest – it’s a data-driven contest.
“And to be out-qualified consistently by George [Russell]…the greats don’t have bad cars.
“He’s got out of sorts with this current phase of his age and formula, and whether Ferrari are the kickstart to bring him back or not remains to be seen, but I’d say that’s pretty worrying.
“Doesn’t detract from his brilliance, doesn’t take away anything from the records, but there is a thing called Mother Nature, and the clock is ticking.”
F1 ‘dependent on data’ but Ferrari switch will be ‘exciting’
Coulthard reiterated that the Maranello-based squad ought to keep tabs on Hamilton’s recent struggles, saying that modern F1 is “dependent on data” and the “stopwatch doesn’t lie”.
But the Scot has offered potential avenues in which Hamilton may be able to regain his legendary speed, suggesting his previous relationship with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur – who “knows him well” from his GP2 days – could help, as well as the move proving to potentially be a reset.
“But sometimes change is also good,” he added.
“Maybe the switch to Ferrari for Hamilton, putting on that red suit, works the same as Superman putting on his suit. But it will be an exciting time anyway.”
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