Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is facing the possibility of completing a Formula 1 season without reaching the podium for the first time in his illustrious career. Currently sitting sixth in the drivers’ championship, Hamilton trails his teammate Charles Leclerc by 66 points, highlighting the challenges of his debut year with the Scuderia.
Lewis Hamilton had hoped his first season with Ferrari would mark a resurgence, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, who enjoyed his peak Formula 1 years with the iconic Italian team. Instead, the seven-time world champion’s campaign has been plagued by underperformance, technical setbacks, and strategic missteps that have left Ferrari struggling to contend with Red Bull and Mercedes.
David Coulthard suggests Hamilton is showing signs of decline
Former F1 driver David Coulthard has indicated that Lewis Hamilton could be exhibiting early signs of a slowdown reminiscent of Schumacher’s later years at Mercedes. Speaking on the Pit Talk Podcast with his former Red Bull colleague Robert Doornbos, Coulthard analyzed the Briton’s recent form and his ability to dominate teammates.
Coulthard explained that top-tier drivers possess exceptional raw speed and racing instincts, which enable them to consistently outperform rivals. He suggested that Hamilton might currently be in a phase where his raw pace has dipped, as evidenced by his inability to decisively dominate teammates in recent seasons. David Coulthard drew parallels to Schumacher’s final years at Mercedes, when the legendary racer remained skilled but no longer possessed the complete edge he displayed during his Ferrari tenure.
According to David Coulthard, the data supports this observation. He emphasized that in motorsport, objective measures like lap times and race results are the ultimate indicators of a driver’s performance. While it may sound critical, the former Formula 1 driver framed it as a data-driven assessment rather than a personal critique, noting that even the greatest drivers are measurable by stopwatch and chequered flag.
Comparing Hamilton’s Ferrari debut to Schumacher’s 1996 season
When Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, he arrived as a proven champion, having won two titles with Benetton. Despite controversies surrounding Benetton at the time, Schumacher was widely recognized as the most talented driver on the grid. His early years at Ferrari were a period of adaptation; it took until 2000 for Schumacher to secure his first title with the Scuderia.
Schumacher’s initial Ferrari season was notable: he finished third in the drivers’ championship behind Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, won races in Spain, Belgium, and Italy, claimed four pole positions, and stood on the podium eight times, outscoring teammate Eddie Irvine by 48 points. Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 campaign, by contrast, has yet to yield a podium, reflecting the difficulties of adapting to the SF-25 and Ferrari’s current performance limitations.
Lewis Hamilton’s current contract reportedly runs through the end of 2027, but the evidence from this season suggests Ferrari’s competitiveness may be regressing rather than improving. While the Briton’s teammate harles Leclerc has clearly outperformed him this year, comparisons to Schumacher highlight the gap between Lewis Hamilton’s potential and the realities of driving the SF-25.
Looking ahead to Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car
Despite the struggles of 2025, Lewis Hamilton remains focused on the future. The expectation is that Ferrari’s 2026 car will offer a more competitive platform, addressing the technical limitations of the SF-25. For Hamilton, success will depend on adapting quickly to improvements in car performance, refining race strategies, and reclaiming the raw speed that has defined his championship-winning seasons.
While the 2025 campaign may be remembered as a challenging first year at Ferrari, the team and Lewis Hamilton will be counting on a stronger 2026 car to restore their position at the front of the Formula 1 grid.
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