When Lewis Hamilton announced his shock move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, fans and pundits alike were brimming with anticipation. The seven-time World Champion was expected to bring his unmatched pedigree to the Scuderia, injecting new life into a team desperate to end its title drought stretching back to 2008. However, nine races into the season, a very different narrative is beginning to take shape—one that suggests Hamilton may no longer be the unstoppable force he once was.
Former F1 driver and respected Sky Sports pundit Johnny Herbert has weighed in with a blunt assessment of Hamilton’s current form, suggesting the “raw pace” that once defined the Briton’s career may now be a thing of the past. It’s a difficult reality for fans of Hamilton to accept, but Herbert believes Ferrari needs to face the “horrible truth”: the team can no longer count on Hamilton to deliver top-tier results.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was seen as a fresh chapter—a final hurrah for the most decorated driver in the history of the sport. But so far, results have been underwhelming. A sprint pole and victory in China offered a brief glimmer of hope, but it has largely been a season filled with frustrations. The Spanish Grand Prix perhaps exemplified his struggles best. Hamilton was asked to move aside for his teammate Charles Leclerc in the opening stint—a move that underlined the shift in dynamics within the team. Leclerc went on to secure a podium finish while Hamilton faded to sixth after being overtaken by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg late in the race.
Now 23 points adrift of Leclerc in the Drivers’ standings, Hamilton is under increasing scrutiny.Herbert likened Hamilton’s current situation to the decline of other F1 legends like Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher. Mansell, after winning the title in 1992, failed to replicate his success upon returning to F1 in 1994. Schumacher’s comeback with Mercedes also fell short of the dazzling performances of his Ferrari days. According to Herbert, Hamilton may now be experiencing a similar decline.
“It just looks like Lewis Hamilton is lost, really lost,” Herbert said in an interview with InstantWithdrawalBettingSites. “I don’t know if the raw pace that he’s always had throughout his career is there anymore.”
Herbert went on to suggest that Hamilton’s famed ability to “drive around problems” seems to have deserted him. Despite Ferrari’s well-documented issues with car performance and strategy, Leclerc has managed to extract consistent podiums. Meanwhile, Hamilton appears stuck in a cycle of miscommunication and underperformance—particularly in his working relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami. The synergy that once defined Hamilton’s dominance at Mercedes with Peter Bonnington appears to be missing.
“Ferrari has made a few poor strategy calls and communication has been lacking,” Herbert noted. “Hamilton hasn’t found his comfort zone since China.”
In contrast, Max Verstappen continues to maximize the potential of his Red Bull, even as McLaren emerges as a formidable challenger. Herbert believes the greats in their prime find a way to elevate their machinery, no matter the circumstances—something Verstappen is doing, and Hamilton no longer seems capable of replicating.
“When your teammate is outperforming you in the same car, that’s when reality hits,” Herbert said. “Leclerc is outperforming Hamilton—and that says a lot.”
Ultimately, Herbert believes it’s time for Ferrari to look ahead, not back. As Leclerc grows into his role as the team’s lead driver, Hamilton’s relevance to Ferrari’s future seems to be waning.
“Leclerc is the driver Ferrari should put their faith in. He’s the one delivering and growing. Sadly, Ferrari can’t rely on Hamilton anymore,” Herbert concluded. “It’s horrible to say, but it’s the truth.”
As the season progresses, Hamilton has plenty of time to prove the critics wrong. But if these early signs are anything to go by, the final chapters of his illustrious career may not match the triumphs that defined the beginning.