David Coulthard has raised questions about whether Lewis Hamilton may have lost the small but critical margin of speed that once made him virtually unbeatable against his Formula 1 teammates. This year marks Hamilton’s 20th season in F1, with the 41-year-old seven-time world champion pursuing a historic eighth title to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record.
Hamilton’s last world championship came in 2020 before Max Verstappen emerged as the dominant force during the ground-effect aerodynamic era, securing three consecutive titles before Lando Norris claimed the 2025 championship.
Hamilton has found adapting to the new cars challenging, managing only two Grand Prix victories over the past four years. Since leaving Mercedes after 12 seasons and joining Ferrari last year, he endured a winless and podium-free season, failing to keep pace with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in their head-to-head duel.
Coulthard compared Hamilton’s recent struggles to his own experience toward the end of his career, recalling how losing “that edge” became apparent as lap times slipped. On the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard said,
“When the stopwatch stopped talking to me and the lap times weren’t there anymore. I realised you just lose that edge.”
He elaborated,
“I think in footballing terms, losing a yard or something is the expression that you just can’t get on the ball anymore.”
“So, I just wonder whether Lewis has lost that little half a tenth that he had over all his teammates in the past because in the last three years, he hasn’t dominated his teammates in the way he did in the previous 15 years.”
— David Coulthard, Former F1 Driver
Examining the Impact of Hamilton’s Transition to Ferrari
After more than a decade with Mercedes, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari brought significant changes in his support network that may have affected his performance. At Mercedes, Hamilton benefited from strong relationships with key members such as his race engineer Peter Bonnington and physio Angela Cullen.
While Cullen rejoined Hamilton after he switched to Ferrari, Bonnington remained at Mercedes. Ferrari initially appointed Riccardo Adami as Hamilton’s engineer, but their partnership lasted only one season before Ferrari reassigned Adami to another role. Hamilton is now working with Carlo Santi for the early races this season, with rumored plans for Cedric Michel-Grosjean to take over as his race engineer.
Coulthard stressed the importance of a close bond between a driver and their engineer, explaining,
“They’re your data bank of knowledge. The relationship with your engineer is the most important in the team, because that’s the person who fights your corner in terms of new parts coming into the team.”
He added,
“That’s the person who gives you all the information when you’re out on track to define what your strategy is going to be.”
“The strategist can tell you, pit now, but if the driver doesn’t come in, you’re not pitting now. So it’s so important, arguably more important than the relationship you have with your partner.”
— David Coulthard, Former F1 Driver
Challenges and Future Outlook for Hamilton at Ferrari
Hamilton’s difficulties adapting to Ferrari’s team dynamics and new car design illustrate the challenges even top drivers face when changing teams. His recent inability to consistently outperform teammates like Charles Leclerc and George Russell has raised questions about whether Hamilton can reclaim the dominance he once held.
Given Hamilton’s enormous experience and competitive drive, engineers and strategists will likely focus on rebuilding his synergy within the Ferrari team, especially with adjustments in race engineering staff. The evolution of both car performance and teamwork will be critical if Hamilton is to pursue the record-breaking eighth world championship successfully.
As the 2026 season unfolds, observers will watch closely to see whether Hamilton can regain his competitive edge or if a new generation of drivers will continue to assert their supremacy in Formula 1.
