Formula 1 veteran Eddie Irvine has attributed Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start with Ferrari to the driver’s age, highlighting this as a key factor behind the challenges the 40-year-old has faced since joining the Italian team. Hamilton’s move to Scuderia Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season has yet to bear the results expected of the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has proven more complicated than anticipated, as he has not yet secured a podium finish with the Maranello-based squad. His recent performances, including a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix, have underscored the struggle he is experiencing on track.
Veteran F1 Driver Identifies Age as a Contributing Factor
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Eddie Irvine outlined his view that Hamilton’s age has influenced his difficulties in adapting to Ferrari’s environment and expectations. While the British driver boasts seven World Championships, Irvine suggested that entering Ferrari at this stage in his career brings inherent challenges.
“Problem with Lewis, he came a bit too old, but he won seven World Championships, so there’s always a price.”
—Eddie Irvine, Former F1 Driver
This insight frames Hamilton’s struggles not as a decline in talent but rather the complexities of adjusting to a new team dynamic later in his career. Despite his accomplished history, Hamilton has not achieved the desired consistency or standout results since joining Ferrari.
Recent Race Performances Highlight Challenges and Small Progress
Hamilton’s 2025 campaign with Ferrari has been marked by mixed results. At the Dutch Grand Prix, he experienced a significant setback when he crashed on lap 23 after losing traction on slippery track paint entering turn three. This incident reflected the ongoing issues he faces adapting to the car and track conditions.
However, the Italian Grand Prix in Monza offered a glimpse of improvement. Starting from 10th on the grid, Hamilton climbed to sixth place by the end of the race. Although still far from the pace of the leader Max Verstappen, this advancement demonstrated his potential to recover ground in some races.
Hamilton Committed to Overcoming Difficulties with Ferrari Team
Following his crash at the Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton addressed his determination to improve and work closely with Ferrari to reach their goals. Acknowledging the pressures experienced during the first half of the season, he emphasized a renewed focus on teamwork and enjoyment to help lift performance levels moving forward.
“Just going to be working, we’re going to work hard, keep our heads down, try to change a few things in our approach and start to enjoy ourselves. There’s been so much pressure in this first half of the season [that] it’s not been the most enjoyable.
“So I think just remembering that we love what we do, we’re all in this together, and yeah, we’ll try and have some fun.”
—Lewis Hamilton, F1 Driver
With eight remaining races on the 2025 calendar, Hamilton’s objective is to maximize his results and secure a podium finish with Ferrari, a feat he has yet to accomplish with the team. Achieving this would help him avoid an unwanted mark in F1 history.
Podium Goal Holds Historical Context for Hamilton
One of the records Hamilton aims to prevent is the distinction of having the most races before securing a maiden podium with Ferrari. Currently, this record belongs to Didier Pironi, who managed to reach his first podium after 19 races with the Prancing Horse.
As Hamilton continues to adapt to his new environment and car, overcoming the initial hurdles related to age, team dynamics, and performance will be critical in changing his fortunes with Ferrari during the rest of the season.
