The End of the Road for F1's Golden Boy?
The glittering career of Lewis Hamilton appears to be reaching its natural conclusion. At 40 years old, the seven-time world champion is facing unprecedented struggles in his debut season with Ferrari, prompting serious questions about his future in the sport.
His disappointing performance during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he started a dismal 20th and last on the grid, has intensified these concerns. While Hamilton has previously demonstrated remarkable recovery drives, such feats now seem increasingly unlikely given his current form.
A Stark Team Imbalance
The statistics paint a bleak picture for the British racing icon. Hamilton has been outqualified by his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc 17 times in 22 races this season. The points deficit is equally damning, with Hamilton trailing the Monegasque driver by 66 points.
While Leclerc is undoubtedly a talented driver, he is not considered to be in the same 'great' category as Hamilton in his prime. The fact that Hamilton is being so consistently beaten by a driver who himself makes regular errors is telling of his decline.
Hamilton's difficulties since joining the Scuderia have been painfully obvious. Beyond his victory in China, the season has been notably podium-free and dire by his extraordinary standards. The driver himself has acknowledged his poor form, describing himself as 'absolutely useless' in Hungary and even suggesting Ferrari should replace him.
Delusion and Diminishing Returns
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Hamilton clings to the hope of securing a record-breaking eighth world title. This ambition appears increasingly delusional. Even if Ferrari were to produce a championship-winning car next season, current form suggests he would still lose out to Leclerc.
Hamilton's initial plea for time to adjust to his new team now seems flimsy. As a seven-time world champion and one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, his skills should include adaptability. Basic errors, such as not knowing where the wet-weather button was on his steering wheel, have undermined his legendary status.
The intra-team disparity reflects a pattern established in his final years at Mercedes, where George Russell beat him in two of their three seasons together. Last year, Russell comprehensively outperformed him in qualifying, despite car development being led by Hamilton.
Excuses about Hamilton's driving style not suiting ground-effect cars hold little weight. These regulations are not new, and drivers have had four years to adapt. As the saying goes, a bad workman always blames his tools.
With Ferrari chairman John Elkann reportedly suggesting Hamilton should 'talk less and concentrate on driving,' the relationship appears strained. The most dignified solution would be for Hamilton to save the team the trouble and retire on his own terms.
For a driver earning £60 million a year for such performances, the time has come to consider his legacy. The wisest course of action would be to bid farewell to the sport at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7, preserving the laurels of a truly remarkable career.
