BREAKING NEWS :A harsh “handicap” message was delivered to Lewis Hamilton.

Former Ferrari driver René Arnoux has delivered a stark message about Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 campaign, calling the 40‑year‑old’s age a “handicap.” Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport and cited by RacingNews365, Arnoux stated:

“Hamilton is trying very hard, but his age is just a handicap … At 40, it is incredibly difficult to put in the athletic effort that these cars require”

He went on to argue that, unless Hamilton has a car that’s “significantly faster than anyone else’s,” he’s fighting an uphill battle — and, this season, that hasn’t been the case .

Why this stings
Factor Explanation
Ferrari adjustment struggles Hamilton remains off the podium in his debut year with the Scuderia — no top-3 finishes yet
Podium drought warning RacingNews365 also notes Hamilton is approaching his longest series without a podium since 2008–09 .
Leclerc outperforming Charles Leclerc has already scored multiple podiums this year, pulling clear of Hamilton in the standings .

Bottom line
Arnoux’s critique may be blunt, but it reflects a real concern: Hamilton is lagging behind his younger teammate, hasn’t landed on the podium, and — according to Arnoux — is being hampered by age-related performance limitations in a physically demanding F1 environment.

Do you think Hamilton can overcome this “handicap” and find form at Ferrari as the season progresses?