Davide Valsecchi has raised a provocative question about Lewis Hamilton’s current chapter with Scuderia Ferrari: was signing him a wise move, or a mistake? The former GP2 champion wonders if the man once known as the “Black King” is no longer the dominant force he used to be. Lewis Hamilton’s struggles in adapting to life in red during his debut season with Ferrari have led some to question whether age might now be playing a decisive role in his performance.
As Formula 1 reflects on the first half of the 2025 season, the seven-time world champion’s results with the Maranello team have been underwhelming. For Valsecchi, who won the GP2 title in 2012, the concerns started well before Hamilton’s first race in a Ferrari. He had said from the outset that signing the then-40-year-old was “madness,” especially considering that 2025 is the final year under the current regulations before Formula 1 embarks on a complete technical reset in 2026. In his words, the sport will start from “a blank slate.”
In Davide Valsecchi’s view, the gamble has not paid off after 14 races, particularly when Hamilton’s pace is compared with that of his team-mate, Charles Leclerc, whom he described as “a lightning bolt” in terms of speed. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Sky Sport F1 pundit emphasised that while he would not call Lewis Hamilton’s arrival “a disaster foretold,” the warning signs had been there early on.
“I only needed to see what happened in the winter,” Davide Valsecchi explained. “The conversation was entirely about him. From a marketing and image perspective, Ferrari probably already gained something.”
However, he argued that the reality of the racetrack has since overshadowed the initial publicity boost. “Now even the positive PR risks turning negative,” he said. That is why he reiterated his initial position: “I would have gone straight for a young driver. Because with new regulations and new cars coming next year, even someone like Max Verstappen might not seem as special as he does now.”
When asked if Lewis Hamilton is simply too “old” for Ferrari, Valsecchi provided a straightforward answer, drawing a comparison to a legend from MotoGP. “Life teaches us this. When you are young, you adapt to everything. As an adult, it’s not so easy. Think about Valentino Rossi — when he moved from Honda to Yamaha, it took him no time at all. But when he went to Ducati at 32, it wasn’t the same.”
Should Ferrari already be planning for life after Hamilton? On this, Valsecchi was clear: he would never have “the courage” to replace him. After all, Hamilton is one of the sport’s most successful drivers. “He has won seven world championships. I don’t think there is anyone at Ferrari today who even comes close. They signed him, and now it’s only right that he stays,” he concluded.
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