Formula One legend David Coulthard said Lewis Hamilton was the biggest disappointment of the 2024 season after a difficult final year with Mercedes. (More Motorsport News)
Seven-time world champion Hamilton finished seventh in the drivers' championship last year, the lowest placing in his entire career, after announcing last Feb🌄ruary that he would leave to🌠 join Ferrari in 2025.
Despite his struggles, there were som🦩e highlights, including a record ninth race victory at the British Grand Prix, his first win since topping🍃 the podium in Saudi Arabia in 2021.
But overall, Hamilton performed poorly last season, with team-mate George Russell out-qualify🦩ing him on 19 of the 24 circuits during the campaign. His downturn in form was not lost on Coulthard when asked about the most underwhelming part of 2024.
"I would still point to Lewis as the biggest🍰 disapp♔ointment," the 13-time Grand Prix winner said.
"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, whil♛e the greats can always find speed somewhere to sque𒆙eze out a qualifying lap when it really matters."
Hamilton celebrated his 40th birthday this week and his difficulties👍 last season have raised concerns that he may no longer be at the top of his game.
While there have already been benefits for Ferrari in signing up Hamilton so early, Coulthard believes they will be🌟 concerned that his on-track form could continue into next season.
"Ferra✨r🃏i, of course, signed him early in the year and then everyone was very enthusiastic," he said.
"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, wo🐲rks the same as Superman putting on his suit꧒.
"B🎐ut it will be an exciting time anywa꧋y."
