F1 legend David Coulthard has slammed Lewis Hamilton for his performances in his final season at Mercedes.
Despite winning two races, including the British Grand Prix, Hamilton finished seventh in the drivers’ standings – the worst position of his illustrious career.
He was also regularly outqualified by team-mate George Russell, and Coulthard has admitted he was unimpressed by what he saw from the seven-time world champion.
‘I would still point to Lewis as the biggest disappointment,’ Coulthard said, as quoted by The Mirror.
‘I know that’s controversial as he’s a seven-time world champion and a real winning machine, but I’ve never seen this Lewis in Formula 1. He was beaten in qualifying, while the greats can always find speed somewhere to squeeze out a qualifying lap when it really matters.’
Hamilton agreed a £50m-a-year switch to Ferrari last year, and that figure could double if he delivers title success to the team.
David Coulthard believes Lewis Hamilton was the ‘biggest disappointment’ of the 2024 season
Coulthard feels Hamilton’s form will be a concern for Ferrari as he prepares to drive for them in 2025
Having been unable to finish at Mercedes on a high, Hamilton will now join new team-mate Charles Leclerc in trying to guide Ferrari back to the front of the grid.
Coulthard believes Ferrari will have some concerns about Hamilton after signing him almost 12 months ago given how his 2024 season played out.
But he feels a change of scenery could benefit Hamilton for one final career resurgence after the Brit turned 40 on Tuesday.
‘Ferrari of course signed him early in the year and then everyone was very enthusiastic,’ Coulthard continued.
‘Ferrari’s shares shot up so fast that they have probably already eliminated all the costs of bringing in Lewis and [team principal Frederic] Vasseur of course knows him well. But 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. So they have to worry a little bit. But sometimes change is also good.
‘Maybe the switch to Ferrari for Hamilton, putting on that red suit, works the same as Superman putting on his suit. But it will be an exciting time anyway.’