Ferrari in Crisis: Vasseur Under pressure as Hamilton St...read more

Ferrari in Crisis: Vasseur Under pressure as Hamilton St…read more

Former Ferrari driver René Arnoux has stirred the Formula 1 paddock by suggesting that Lewis Hamilton’s age is proving to be a disadvantage in his first season with Ferrari, claiming that the seven-time World Champion is struggling without the benefit of a dominant car. According to Arnoux, Hamilton’s presence has not delivered the boost Ferrari had hoped for, and the team is currently in poor shape under team principal Fred Vasseur.

Ferrari began the 2025 F1 season with high expectations after finishing just 14 points behind McLaren in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. Buoyed by the acquisition of Hamilton from Mercedes, Ferrari were tipped to be strong title contenders and possibly end their long-standing drought for championship glory. However, after ten races into the current season, the reality has fallen well short of the ambition.

Instead of mounting a title challenge, Ferrari find themselves 191 points adrift of current leaders McLaren. The team has only managed three podium finishes this season, all secured by Charles Leclerc. Hamilton, in contrast, has not made it into the top three in a full-length Grand Prix and has finished no higher than fourth. While he has shown flashes of competitiveness in the sprint races, his performances on Sundays have been underwhelming compared to both his past form and his teammate’s current output.

Arnoux has pointed to Hamilton’s age — he turned 40 earlier this year — as a significant factor in his declining performance. He argues that the edge Hamilton once had may be diminishing and that, without the support of a dominant car like the ones he drove at Mercedes during their championship-winning years, he is struggling to deliver at the front. This, Arnoux claims, is hurting Ferrari’s hopes as they were banking on Hamilton’s experience and pedigree to bring them closer to championship success.

Fred Vasseur, who took over the reins at Ferrari as team principal, is also under growing pressure. Arnoux believes the team lacks clear direction and that the combination of Vasseur’s leadership and Hamilton’s waning pace is contributing to Ferrari’s underperformance. The criticism underscores a broader concern about the team’s strategic decisions and their inability to make the most of a high-profile signing like Hamilton.

In summary, Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has so far been disappointing, with Hamilton’s form and the team’s management under scrutiny. What was once viewed as a potential title-winning partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari is, for now, looking like a misstep in the Scuderia’s quest to return to the top of Formula 1.