Former F1 boss Mattia Binott believes his former team signed Lewis Hamilton too late and now believes he is “at the end of his career.”
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has struggled to adapt to life at Ferrari following his blockbuster transfer from Mercedes, and is comprehensively outperformed by teammate Charles Leclair.
Hamilton finished a disappointing sixth place at the Spanish Grand Prix (only after a penalty by Max Verstappen) and was left visible after the race.
Apart from claiming an impressive pole position and victory in the Chinese sprint race, Hamilton’s first campaign with Ferrari was challenging. He has not yet won the Grand Prix podium, but Leclerc won three in his first nine races in 2025.
Binott, now Sauber/Audi boss, has questioned Ferrari’s decision to sign Hamilton earlier, doubled his stance.
“Hamilton is in a certain era,” Binotto told the Italian publication automoto.it.
“Ferrari took him with him when he was at the end of his career.
“The ideal would have been to get it a few years ago.”
But Binotto believes that Ferrari can carry on what has been a very overwhelming campaign up until now.
“It’s clear that the performance and results that are on track are not where they want to be,” Binott added.
“But I know all the members of that team very well, and I know they are talented, strong and capable.
“They will be able to improve their cars and do well in the future, and I think Ferrari will still enjoy success this year.”
Has Lewis Hamilton been lost?
Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert also recently handed a brutal verdict on Hamilton, claiming the 40-year-old Brit has lost his way.
“Lewis Hamilton is lost and looks really lost,” Herbert told Instantwithdrawalbettingsites. “I don’t know if the raw pace he’s always had throughout his career is there anymore.
“I thought Hamilton had the pure racing skills he would be able to drive away car problems, but he seems stuck in a hole.
“It’s not a good thing to watch, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen it in sports. Nigel Munsell won the championship in 1992, went to America in 1993, and returned in 1994, but it didn’t work for him anymore.
“When Michael Schumacher also rested and returned, he wasn’t Schumacher the same as before.
“You’ll always have your peak and your peak ending. It’s not a good thing to watch. I know Charles Leclerc isn’t happy with the car either, but at least he’s consistently on the podium.
“There are some poor decisions in Ferrari’s strategy and insufficient communication over the radio, so Hamilton Doe has no synergy with the engineers he needs. He hasn’t found his comfort zone since his sprint victory in China.”
Herbert suggested that Ferrari would be better to throw all his weight behind Leclerc.
“You may not realize that it’s not as easy as before, but you may click when you look around the garage and your teammates outperform you,” he added.
“The sports greats get the best from their cars at their peak. Max Verstappen is doing it now. It seems Hamilton can’t get the extra they need anymore.
“Leclair only grows up and controls Ferrari’s future. He’s the guy they can turn to. Ferrari can’t rely on Lewis Hamilton at this point. It’s scary to say, but that’s true.”
