“FERRARI MADE A WRONG DECISION. CHOOSING OLD “LEWIS HAMILTON”
“FERRARI MADE A WRONG DECISION. CHOOSING” OLD LEWIS HAMILTON”
Former F1 driver Marc Surer recently criticized Ferrari’s decision to bring Lewis Hamilton on board as Charles Leclerc’s teammate in 2025, rather than retaining Carlos Sainz. Surer argues that Hamilton, despite his impressive career and seven World Championships, may not be the best choice for Ferrari as he’s “no longer as fast as he used to be.” According to Surer, Hamilton’s age and recent performances suggest that his peak speed is diminishing, making Ferrari’s choice questionable.
Ferrari’s driver lineup decision, finalized even before the 2024 season began, has already affected Sainz’s career path. The Spanish driver will move to Williams for the 2025 season. Sainz, determined to prove his worth following the announcement, has had an impressive season, winning both the Australian and Mexican Grands Prix. With 240 points this season, he leads Hamilton in the standings, as the British driver sits at 189 points.
Despite this, Hamilton has managed to show glimpses of his racing prowess. He claimed victory at both Silverstone and Spa, putting him ahead of his current Mercedes teammate, George Russell, in the Drivers’ standings. However, Russell leads Hamilton 15-5 in qualifying, highlighting an area where Hamilton has struggled this season. Throughout his career, Hamilton has only lost a qualifying head-to-head against a teammate once before, to Nico Rosberg in 2014. This year’s qualifying performance seems to support Surer’s view that Hamilton may be losing some of his edge.
Surer also commented on the effects of age on a driver’s performance. He believes that, while experience may give older drivers certain strategic advantages during races, it doesn’t compensate for the small but noticeable loss of raw speed that can come with age. According to Surer, while this loss may only amount to fractions of a second, it’s enough to make a difference in highly competitive races. “You don’t get faster with age,” Surer remarked, explaining that a driver’s speed often tapers over time.
However, Surer did acknowledge that motivation plays a significant role in Hamilton’s performance. He noted Hamilton’s remarkable performance at the British Grand Prix, where he claimed his ninth career win at Silverstone. Surer suggests that moments like these demonstrate Hamilton’s ability to deliver exceptional performances when he’s driven by a strong motivation. He believes Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari could potentially rekindle this drive, as joining such an iconic team might inspire Hamilton to prove himself once more.
In Surer’s opinion, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari could motivate him to perform at a high level, silencing critics and proving that he’s still capable of challenging for championships. Despite his reservations about Hamilton’s current speed, Surer believes that Hamilton’s experience and determination could still benefit Ferrari, especially if Hamilton brings renewed energy to his new team.
This shift in the lineup is significant, and whether Hamilton can recapture his previous pace remains to be seen. His rivalry with younger talents like Leclerc and Russell, along with the challenge of adapting to Ferrari, may push him to his limits.
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