Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate, shares insights on Hamilton’s current struggles at Ferrari.
- Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari hasn’t eliminated his performance issues.
- Despite past success, Hamilton finds himself outqualified by Charles Leclerc at most races.
- Rosberg suggests age might be affecting Hamilton’s pace in the F1 2025 season.
- Ferrari’s current car issues exacerbate the challenges Hamilton faces.
Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari in the 2025 F1 season appears to be a continuation of the struggles he faced during his final year at Mercedes. Nico Rosberg, a former teammate and current pundit, shared these thoughts, expressing concern that age might be catching up with the seven-time World Champion. In 2024, Hamilton admitted to not being as fast anymore, which was also evident as George Russell frequently outperformed him.
The 2025 season hasn’t been kinder to Hamilton. His new teammate Charles Leclerc has outqualified him in seven of eight races, illustrating a notable decline in Hamilton’s once dominant qualifying pace. This echoes Rosberg’s point that Hamilton’s ‘dip’ at Mercedes hasn’t been resolved at Ferrari.
Rosberg speculates that turning 40 could be impacting Hamilton’s split-second reflexes, a crucial aspect of F1 racing. The sport’s demands are unforgiving, and even the slightest delay can make a significant difference, particularly against younger racers like Leclerc.
Ferrari’s SF-25 has also been problematic this season. Rosberg labeled it as the worst car on the grid, noting its extreme understeer and snap oversteer issues. Such handling problems make it difficult for drivers like Hamilton to perform at their peak, compounding the challenges posed by any personal decline.
Hamilton’s recent performance in Monaco highlighted these struggles. He finished significantly behind winner Lando Norris, with issues like a grid penalty and getting stuck in traffic only adding to his woes. Additionally, his relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami was under scrutiny, though Hamilton insisted their partnership remains strong.
Amidst these challenges, the media’s focus has now shifted to whether Hamilton can overcome these hurdles or if this is indeed a sign of a wider decline as speculated by Rosberg.
In a season full of challenges, questions remain about Hamilton’s ability to reclaim his former glory against rising stars and a challenging Ferrari setup.
