Source: REUTERS/Juan Medina
[Saba Sports News] Former F1 star Nick Heidfeld bluntly told the media that Lewis Hamilton’s age crisis is brewing at Ferrari. Heidfeld stated, “At 40 years old, he’s no longer young, and the gap from his prime is visible to the naked eye, even though some people are reluctant to admit this fact.” This statement reveals the deeper troubles Hamilton faces after joining Ferrari and triggers intense debates within the paddock about the lifespan of legendary drivers. Data shows that in the first eight qualifying rounds of the season, Hamilton only once led teammate Charles Leclerc; in the main races, he narrowly won the Chinese sprint race against the Monaco driver, with an average lag of 0.4 seconds compared to his teammate in other events. Heidfeld pointed out, “When the car is well suited to him, Hamilton can still burst into action, like the comeback at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, the disadvantage in qualifying is hard to make up for.” More pressing is the crisis of team integration. During the Monaco Grand Prix, the radio dispute between Hamilton and engineer Riccardo Adami was publicly exposed. Insider sources in the paddock reveal that British driver Hamilton has always struggled to adapt to the oversteer characteristics of the SF-25 car, and his driving style fundamentally conflicts with Leclerc’s aggressive control.