Former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer has labeled Lewis Hamilton a “spoiled child” who only secures victories when driving the best car, highlighting significant struggles the seven-time world champion faces after joining Ferrari in 2024. This critique emerges amid Hamilton’s challenging debut season with Ferrari, where he has yet to reach the podium in 17 races and has been notably outperformed by his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Surer, who raced 82 times between 1979 and 1986 without a win, spoke to the Austrian magazine Vollgas, emphasizing that Hamilton’s recent form contrasts sharply with his past dominance. At 40 years old, Hamilton’s performance has declined considerably since narrowly losing the 2021 world championship to Max Verstappen in a highly contentious Abu Dhabi finale. Since then, Hamilton has achieved only two victories, reflecting a downturn in his competitiveness.
Criticism over Hamilton’s Dependency on Top Machinery
Marc Surer criticized Hamilton for relying heavily on superior cars to win, suggesting the Briton struggles when his vehicle isn’t the fastest.
“Lewis Hamilton is simply a spoiled child who has always driven the best cars. If the car suits him, he wins hands down,”
Surer said.
“But as soon as he doesn’t have the fastest car, he runs into problems.”
This assessment underlines Hamilton’s difficulty adapting to less dominant equipment, which has become glaringly obvious during his current struggles at Ferrari.
Comparison with Fernando Alonso’s Adaptability
Surer used Fernando Alonso as a point of contrast, praising Alonso’s ability to extract the maximum from less competitive cars, a trait Hamilton allegedly lacks.
“He [Hamilton] is not like Alonso, who can live with compromises and gets the most out of every car,”
the Swiss remarked.
“I did not expect that. I thought he would still shine in the races thanks to his experience. But that is not happening.”
Alonso’s consistent competitiveness despite equipment setbacks serves as an example that Surer feels Hamilton fails to follow, highlighting perceived declines in Hamilton’s racecraft and adaptability.
Hamilton’s Challenges within Ferrari and Previous Seasons
Besides the current difficulties at Ferrari, Surer noted Hamilton’s recent struggles when competing alongside George Russell at Mercedes, further drawing attention to a decline in his competitive edge.
“On the other hand, he already struggled over the past two years alongside George Russell. At Ferrari, he now has an extremely fast team-mate in Charles Leclerc,”
Surer concluded.
Hamilton’s rivalry with Leclerc has underscored his challenges, as Leclerc has consistently outpaced him while Ferrari itself has slipped behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings. Currently, Hamilton is sixth in the drivers’ championship, trailing his teammate by 44 points with only seven races remaining this season.
Recent Performances and Signs of Progress
Despite the difficulties, Hamilton appears to be making some progress with Ferrari’s updated 2025 car since the summer break, though results remain inconsistent. He bounced back from a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix and a subsequent five-place grid penalty to finish sixth at his first Italian Grand Prix driving for Ferrari.
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton placed eighth, once again finishing just ahead of Leclerc but during another disappointing weekend for the Italian team. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s drop to third place in the constructors’ championship reflects the broader struggles facing both Hamilton and the team.
As the season nears its conclusion, Hamilton’s ability to adapt and regain form will be crucial for his legacy and Ferrari’s chances in both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
