The motorsport world is abuzz with Nico Rosberg’s latest observations on Lewis Hamilton, his former teammate. Rosberg, who competed alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, believes the racing legend is grappling with a decline in performance, a theory that seems to resonate with Hamilton’s recent tenure at Ferrari.
In 2025, Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has stirred conversations, especially since it followed a challenging final season with Mercedes in 2024. Rosberg has noted that Hamilton’s performance dip from last year appears to have persisted into his current season. Despite securing wins with Mercedes the previous year, Hamilton struggled to outpace George Russell in qualifying, leading him to candidly admit, ‘I’m not fast anymore’ during the Qatar race.
The concern grew as Hamilton continued to face challenges at Ferrari. He’s been outqualified by his teammate Charles Leclerc in seven out of the eight races so far. Rosberg highlighted how Leclerc’s prowess in qualifying has put additional pressure on Hamilton. ‘It’s a little bit of a continuation of the form from last year, where already there was a dip and George had the upper hand,’ Rosberg mentioned during an interview with Sky F1. He speculated that age might be impacting Hamilton’s speed, adding, ‘Even if he’s the greatest of all time, at some point you’re going to get a little bit slower.’
Hamilton’s recent ordeal was exemplified at the Spanish Grand Prix, where the Ferrari SF-25 received criticism for its lackluster performance. Rosberg called the Ferrari ‘the worst’ on the grid, sympathizing with Hamilton for having to handle such a challenging car. The car’s understeer and oversteer issues at the track made Hamilton’s task even more daunting, especially when he trailed behind Lando Norris by over 51 seconds in Monaco.
Controversy also brewed around Hamilton’s interaction with race engineer Riccardo Adami, as awkward exchanges over team radio were scrutinized. However, Hamilton was quick to dismiss any rumors of discord, affirming that his relationship with Adami is robust and constructive. ‘We’re constantly learning more about each other. We don’t have any problems whatsoever,’ he stated, batting away the speculation as ‘BS.’
As Lewis Hamilton battles through a season fraught with difficulties, both with his performance and controversies, the spotlight remains firmly on him and his new team at Ferrari. Whether this season marks a permanent shift in his career trajectory or a temporary hurdle remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Rosberg’s insights provide a compelling narrative on the challenges faced by even the most seasoned champions.
