Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari was expected to be a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, it has turned into something closer to a long arthouse film: lots of dramatic pauses and tension, but no real payoff. After seventeen Grands Prix, the seven-time world champion has only one sprint win to his name.
The much-anticipated podium with the Scuderia remains stubbornly out of reach, and the critics are circling. Among them is former F1 driver Marc Surer, who seems determined to play the role of the grumpy film critic tearing up the poster outside the cinema.
Surer’s critical voice
In an interview with Austrian magazine Vollgas, Surer dismissed Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles with brutal simplicity: “Lewis is just a spoiled child who has always driven the best cars,” he declared.
According to Surer, Hamilton’s record is less a testament to superhuman talent and more a result of having a rocket ship beneath him. When the machinery is perfect, Hamilton is unstoppable. But when the car is slightly unruly, like the 2025 SF-25, his façade crumbles. Surer even contrasted Hamilton with Fernando Alonso, noting that Alonso thrives in adversity and can make fast cars out of those that others would write off as midfield fodder.
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Handling headaches in Maranello
The biggest disappointment for Surer is Hamilton’s inability to tame Ferrari’s tricky SF-25. The Briton has repeatedly complained about the car’s unpredictability, much to the dismay of the tifosi, who expected their superstar signing to elevate the team.
“I didn’t expect that,” Surer admitted, confessing that he had thought Hamilton’s vast experience would enable him to shine despite the car’s shortcomings.
Instead, Charles Leclerc has stolen the spotlight. The Monegasque driver has already achieved five podium finishes and routinely outperforms Hamilton on both Saturdays and Sundays. For Ferrari’s accountants, this was not quite the return on investment they had in mind.
The irony is palpable. Ferrari lured Hamilton from Mercedes like a football club signing a galáctico, only to find that he is yet to deliver his first Champions League goal.
The Alonso comparison
Surer’s comparison to Alonso is especially cutting. Alonso built his reputation by achieving podium finishes in cars that should never have been anywhere near it. From the clunky McLarens of the mid-2010s to Aston Martin’s surprising revival in 2023, he has shown an uncanny ability to improvise. Hamilton, by contrast, is accused of being too dependent on perfection, like a virtuoso pianist who only performs if the Steinway is perfectly tuned.
Surer’s point is that greatness should not rely solely on the quality of the equipment. Right now, the Ferrari garage feels more like a scrapyard of excuses than a workshop of progress.
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The Leclerc problem
While Hamilton’s own struggles are notable, the bigger issue is being consistently outperformed by his teammate. Leclerc has flourished in 2025, achieving not only podium finishes, but also a calm consistency that Ferrari has been craving. Every time Leclerc climbs onto the podium, Hamilton is reminded of what could have been. The British champion is not accustomed to being the second-best driver in his own team, and this is fuelling the narrative of his decline.
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Looking ahead
Hamilton still has the opportunity to turn his Ferrari debut into something more than a cautionary tale. A podium finish would at least silence the critics and demonstrate to the tifosi that their investment was not just an expensive marketing ploy.
However, if things don’t improve, Surer’s words will echo even louder, painting the picture of a once-great champion who is struggling to adapt. For now, Hamilton must strike a balance between pride and pragmatism because the ‘spoiled child’ label, once attached, is difficult to shake off.
So, jury, what do you think? Is Hamilton truly showing his age, or is he simply suffering from Ferrari’s eternal chaos? Leave your verdict below.
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I don’t think AGE is the problem. I DO think his ‘legendary status’ has been built on driving the best cars.
But he’s not the only one, is he! Look at Norris, for example.
Great drivers are those – like Alonso – who, as Surer says, have delivered with mediocre cars. There are too few true ‘legends’ in the game.
Hamilton is just a boy in a short man’s body