Lewis Hamilton’s Brutal Handicap Exposed as Ferrari Struggles Mount

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Lewis Hamilton’s Brutal Handicap Exposed as Ferrari Struggles Mount originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season was supposed to be a fairy tale — a seven-time world champion returning to the sport’s most iconic team in search of his record breaking eighth title. But halfway through the season, things aren’t going to plan. Now, a former Ferrari driver has offered a scathing assessment that’s turning heads in the paddock.

Rene Arnoux, who raced for Ferrari in the 1980s, has suggested Hamilton’s age, who turned 40 this year, is now a “handicap” that’s holding the team back.

“He’s a great driver, but at 40, you can’t expect miracles,” Arnoux told the press. “Without a dominant car, it’s clear he struggles. Age is a handicap in Formula 1 — it always has been.”

Arnoux also questioned Ferrari’s current leadership under Fred Vasseur, saying the team is in “a bad way” and lacking clear direction despite having two experienced drivers in Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton during the 2025 Miami GP.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has indeed been bumpy. While Leclerc has secured multiple podiums, Hamilton has battled inconsistent qualifying form and disappointing race results. The Briton currently sits outside the top five in the championship standings and has not yet finished on the podium.

Despite those setbacks, Hamilton remains publicly supportive of the team and Vasseur, recently telling the media he’s “here to win with Fred” and urged critics to “stop making stuff up.”

But with pressure mounting and rivals like McLaren and Red Bull pulling ahead, Ferrari’s gamble on Hamilton needs to start paying off soon — or criticism like Arnoux’s may only grow louder.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

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