As Lewis Hamilton begins his new chapter with Ferrari in 2025, Formula 1 pundits Martin Brundle and David Coulthard have shared candid insights on whether the seven-time World Champion can reclaim his former glory or if his best days are behind him.
Brundle: “Peak May Be Behind Him, But There’s More to Come”
Martin Brundle reflected on Hamilton’s turbulent 2024 season, where moments of brilliance, such as his historic ninth win at Silverstone, were juxtaposed with struggles in qualifying and self-doubt at races like Qatar.
Speaking after Hamilton’s final race for Mercedes, Brundle praised his determination:
“Tremendous drive, a bit like Las Vegas as well, wasn’t it, where he came back through the field and just showed a lot of pace, a lot of determination.”
However, Brundle acknowledged the elephant in the room—Hamilton’s age:
“Plenty of people [are saying], ‘Is Lewis over the hill?’ His absolute peak might be behind him as he turns 40 in January. But, 98 per cent of Lewis Hamilton in a race-winning Ferrari will win races.”
The move to Ferrari, Brundle suggested, might reignite Hamilton’s hunger:
“Maybe he’ll get some new energy there as well. He showed today that there’s still a lot to come from Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of a Formula 1 car.”
Coulthard: “A Disappointing Season for a Winning Machine”
David Coulthard, however, was less forgiving in his assessment of Hamilton’s 2024 campaign, calling it his most disappointing in F1:
“I would still point to Lewis as the biggest disappointment. He’s a seven-time World Champion and a real winning machine, but I’ve never seen this Lewis in Formula 1.”
Highlighting Hamilton’s struggles against teammate George Russell, who outscored and outqualified him across the season, Coulthard added:
“The greats can always find speed somewhere to squeeze out a qualifying lap when it really matters, but Lewis seemed unable to do that last season.”
The Ferrari Factor: A New Chapter or More Challenges?
Coulthard and Brundle both agreed that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari could be pivotal. Ferrari’s iconic brand and its potential to build a competitive car might offer Hamilton a shot at redemption. Coulthard likened the transition to a transformative moment:
“Maybe the switch to Ferrari for Hamilton, putting on that red suit, works the same as Superman putting on his suit.”
But Coulthard issued a word of caution:
“Formula 1 remains a sport that is very dependent on data. The stopwatch doesn’t lie, and at the moment, it just doesn’t deliver in terms of lap times.”
2025 and Beyond: A Make-or-Break Year?
Both analysts highlighted that the coming season will be crucial. Hamilton’s legacy as one of F1’s greatest drivers is secure, but the challenge of adapting to a new team and car at Ferrari could define the final chapter of his storied career.
Whether Ferrari can provide him with a championship-winning machine remains to be seen. But as Brundle put it, “98 per cent of Lewis Hamilton” in a competitive car is still a formidable force on the grid. Fans, pundits, and rivals alike will watch closely to see if Hamilton can defy the odds and rewrite his story in the famous red of Ferrari.
