Ex-Red Bull driver declares Lewis Hamilton’s form ‘pretty worrying’ for Ferrari
David Coulthard believed that Lewis Hamilton's form with Mercedes in the 2024 season was a point to worry about for Ferrari.
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Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari's racing suit (via @lewishamilton/Instagram)
Lewis Hamilton is all set to race with Ferrari and get up to speed from the get-go amidst the team’s upturning performance. The 40-year-old’s final year at Mercedes was mediocre with him being outscored by George Russell in the standings. Hamilton’s qualifying problems are still present as he is set to go up against one of the best qualifiers Charles Leclerc. As a result, Ex-Red Bull driver David Coulthard raised uncertainty over his chances at the Italian constructor.
A majority of the people in and around the paddock believed Lewis Hamilton to be out of his prime in Formula 1 despite the eminent Ferrari move. The team still has banked high hopes on the seven-time champion, calling him a ‘great asset’. David Coulthard believed that the 40-year-old was ‘out of sorts’ with the current generation of drivers. Due to this, Hamilton’s chances at Maranello against Charles Leclerc remained ‘worrying’ for the team.
He’s got out of sorts with this current phase of his age and formula, and whether Ferrari are the kickstart to bring him back or not remains to be seen, but I’d say that’s pretty worrying.
David Coulthard told Channel 4.
Despite the debate, Hamilton scored two highly coveted race wins with Mercedes in the 2024 season, ending his almost 1000-day victory drought. Hence, the 53-year-old noted that these questions did not ‘detract’ the Briton’s brilliance or records. However, with the former being over 40 years old, Coulthard made a ‘time is ticking’ remark.
Doesn’t detract from his brilliance, doesn’t take away anything from the records, but there is a thing called Mother Nature, and the clock is ticking.
David Coulthard added
David Coulthard believed that ‘the greats don’t have bad cars’
Max Verstappen, much like Lewis Hamilton had a difficult time with his chassis and still managed to win the 2024 drivers’ title. David Coulthard asserted that Formula 1 wasn’t a personality or opinion contest that Hamilton could win easily.
Rather, the pinnacle of motorsport was data-driven and the seven-time champion being out-qualified by George Russell was a big deal. The 53-year-old further took a jibe at the 40-year-old and claimed that the ‘greats’ made every effort to score well in a struggling chassis.
Lewis is a winning machine, he’s broken all the records, but this isn’t a personality contest, it’s not an opinion contest – it’s a data-driven contest. And to be out-qualified consistently by George [Russell]… the greats don’t have bad cars.
David Coulthard noted
Ferrari has still welcomed Hamilton with open arms and is hoping for at least a championship contention in the coming season. The 40-year-old has great experience in the sport and might just be what the Italian constructor currently needs. Hence, time will tell about how useful the Briton turns out for Maranello in the coming few years.
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Aditya Pandya
(1480 Articles Published)