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 lo𝓀west placing i⛄n his entire career, after announcing last February that he would leave to join Ferrari in 2025.
Despite his struggles, there were some 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-qualifying 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 2024ღ.
"I would still point to Lewis as the biggest dis💙appointment," 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 ꦏI've never seen this Lewis in Formula 1. He was beaten in qualifying, while the greats can always find speed somewhere to squ🐷eeze out a qualifying lap when it really matters."
Hamilton celebrated his 40th birthday this week and his difficulties la🐎st season have raised concerns that he may no ♛longer be at the top of his game.
While th꧅ere have already been benefits for Ferrari in signing up Hamilton so early, Coulthard believes they will be concerned that his on-t🦄rack form could continue into next season.
"Ferrari, of course, signed him early ﷽in the ye🦂ar 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, works the same as Superman putting on his suit.
&q𝔉uot;But it will be an exciting time anyway𒆙."
