David Coulthard has expressed skepticism over Lewis Hamilton’s explanation for his difficulties with the Ferrari SF-25 during the 2025 Formula 1 season, which has been dominated by discussions of “Lewis Hamilton Ferrari struggles.” While Hamilton insists the car’s unfamiliarity is the cause, Coulthard wonders if the seven-time world champion might have actually passed his prime. This debate intensified as Hamilton continues to adjust mid-season, still chasing his first podium with Ferrari.
Evaluating Hamilton’s Transition to Ferrari
After 12 years racing exclusively with Mercedes and 18 years utilizing Mercedes engines, Lewis Hamilton embarked on a dramatic career shift by joining Ferrari for the 2025 season. The Briton signed a multi-year contract, swapping his familiar silver car for the iconic red, stepping into a team known for its rich history and fervent fanbase, the Tifosi. However, adaptation has proved harder than anticipated as Hamilton wrestles with a new team environment alongside a novel car and power unit.
Sixteen races into his Ferrari tenure, Hamilton remains off the podium, acknowledging the challenges openly. Speaking at the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton told PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher and other media outlets:
“Ultimately, that’s driving kind of an alien driving style, with a car that I’m not 100 per cent comfortable with.”
Lewis Hamilton
He further explained the unfamiliarity with this season’s car compared to previous years:
“I think what’s clear for me is that, look, I know I’ve been driving this car all year long, but in my previous years, I was a part of a car that you’re evolving over time. You’re comfortable with it, and know the driving style inside and out.”
Lewis Hamilton
“This year, I’m arriving at the track and having to apply this new driving style that’s still alien to me. It doesn’t feel natural.”
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton’s remarks about the car’s distinctiveness date back to the season opener in Australia, where he admitted the Ferrari was
“just different, just a lot different”
and that he had been
“adjusting my driving style bit by bit.”
Coulthard Raises Questions Over Hamilton’s Performance Decline
Despite Hamilton’s rationale, David Coulthard voiced doubts that the mechanical differences fully explain the ongoing struggles. Speaking on Channel 4, the former F1 driver and commentator shared a more critical viewpoint rooted in Hamilton’s recent form and statistics. Coulthard suggested that the challenges might indicate Hamilton has passed his peak competitiveness, emphasizing the demands at the highest level of the sport.
He remarked:
“Well, the old cliche is it never rains, but it pours.”
David Coulthard
Coulthard elaborated on Hamilton’s trajectory following his Mercedes era alongside teammate George Russell, saying:
“It just feels that off the back of the end of his Mercedes run alongside George, he’d lost his mojo there. We hoped that he would rediscover it at Ferrari, be energised by the power of the Tifosi, but it just hasn’t worked out.”
David Coulthard
He anticipated some backlash for being candid but stood firm on his view, focusing on comparisons with Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc:
“And this is not an opinion business, because I know there’ll be people at home going, ‘how dare you say something negative about Lewis Hamilton?’ The guy is brilliant, and he has been brilliant, but you’re judged against your teammate, and that’s the one thing that stands between him right now and a big result. He’s got to consistently get in front of Charles.”
David Coulthard
Lewis Hamilton’s Head-to-Head Battle Against Charles Leclerc
The ongoing head-to-head statistics between Hamilton and Leclerc reveal a concerning gap for the Briton. Through the first 16 races of the 2025 season, Hamilton has qualified behind Leclerc 14 times out of 19 attempts, including sprint qualifying sessions. In race conditions, Hamilton trails Leclerc with four finishes ahead against 14 behind, excluding the unique case of the double disqualification in China. In terms of points, Hamilton sits 46 behind Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
Discussing these numbers during a Channel 4 segment, host Steve Jones described the situation as bleak. Coulthard agreed with the stark reality, admitting:
“Yeah, those are the statistical facts. And I wish I had some kind of guiding light as to how he’s going to turn that around.”
David Coulthard
Coulthard underscored the fundamental nature of Formula 1 competition, reducing it to mastering the machine and the human effort involved:
“I struggle to buy into the whole change your culture. It’s a race car, right, left, throttle, brake. Yes, there’s another way of terminology, but a power unit is a power unit. Downforce is downforce. When you break this sport down to its simplest forms, it’s about human and machine, and the very best at their peak are able to master that.”
David Coulthard
He concluded by reiterating the critical question:
“So the question is, and I’m going to say it, is he past his peak?”
David Coulthard
Beyond Hamilton: Ferrari’s Overall Performance Challenges
Coulthard also pointed out that the issues extend beyond Hamilton’s adaptation, reflecting on Ferrari’s underwhelming season as a whole. Entering 2025, Ferrari carried high expectations from pundits and the team itself, but those hopes have frequently been unmet.
He observed:
“It feels that other than that little flash of brilliance in the Sprint in China for Hamilton, and then the unbelievable pole position from Leclerc in Budapest, they’ve been kind of used to the fact that they’re the best team, maybe.”
David Coulthard
This underperformance is reflected in the Constructors’ Championship standings, where Ferrari is second with 280 points after the Monza Grand Prix, narrowly leading Mercedes by 20 points yet still without a race victory in 2025.
While Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles have raised questions about his current form and future prospects, the season remains ongoing, leaving room for potential shifts in momentum. Both Hamilton and Ferrari face intense pressure to rediscover competitiveness as they aim to end their winless streak and challenge championship leaders in the coming races.
