Lewis Hamilton ‘Lost’ at Ferrari as Bleak R…read more
Lewis Hamilton’s long-anticipated move to Ferrari in 2025 has so far failed to deliver the resurgence many fans had hoped for. Once seen as the perfect marriage of racing heritage and championship pedigree, Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to the Scuderia has instead been marked by underperformance, internal struggles, and growing speculation that the seven-time world champion is no longer the dominant force he once was.
The latest blow came at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton slipped behind Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, finishing behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc yet again. To add insult to injury, Ferrari issued team orders early in the race, instructing Hamilton to let Leclerc through—an order he obeyed, signaling a clear hierarchy within the team that does little to dispel doubts about Hamilton’s current competitiveness.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert offered a stinging critique of Hamilton’s recent performances, painting a grim picture of the 40-year-old’s trajectory. “It just looks like Lewis Hamilton is lost, really lost,” Herbert said in an interview with InstantWithdrawalBettingSites. “I don’t know if the raw pace that he’s always had throughout his career is there anymore.” Herbert suggested that Hamilton’s legendary skill—which once allowed him to extract performance from even the most difficult cars—may now be fading, leaving the former champion seemingly unable to adapt to the challenges presented by the Ferrari SF-25.
Hamilton’s current season stats back up this worrying narrative. With just one sprint race win in China and a fourth-place finish in Imola to his name, he sits 23 points behind Leclerc in the drivers’ standings. Meanwhile, Leclerc has managed to eke out consistent podium finishes and appears more comfortable in the car, despite both drivers initially struggling to unlock its full potential.
This widening performance gap has not gone unnoticed by the F1 paddock. Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg, added his voice to the growing chorus of concern, hinting that age may be playing a decisive role in Hamilton’s decline. In particular, Rosberg highlighted Hamilton’s qualifying struggles—where he has been outpaced by Leclerc in seven races this season—as a sign that the Briton may no longer possess the razor-sharp edge that defined his prime years.
The situation bears unsettling parallels to the career arcs of past champions. Herbert drew comparisons to Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher, both of whom experienced steep drop-offs after reaching their peaks. “Nigel Mansell won his championship in 1992, went to America in 1993, came back in 1994 and it didn’t work anymore for him. It happened with Michael Schumacher too… he wasn’t the same Schumacher as before,” Herbert noted.
The suggestion is clear: greatness in F1, while often enduring in memory, can be brutally fleeting in reality.
Ferrari’s internal dynamics further complicate Hamilton’s plight. With Leclerc now firmly establishing himself as the team’s lead driver, Hamilton risks slipping into a secondary role, an unthinkable position for someone of his stature just a few seasons ago. The hope that Ferrari could offer a final chapter of glory in Hamilton’s storied career now looks increasingly uncertain.
While the season is far from over, Hamilton’s struggles have already sparked debates about his future and legacy. Can he rebound and prove the doubters wrong, or is this the beginning of the end for one of the sport’s greatest ever drivers? For now, the jury is still out—but the signs, many fear, are ominous.
