The elusive eighth world title which the Formula One world (mainly just the Tifoso) believed Lewis Hamilton would magically win once signing with Ferrari now seems like a distant memory.
Five races into the season and Hamilton has not once, other than the Chinese Sprint, looked in control of the SF-25.
The standard of driving which he exhibited during his reign at Mercedes has not been the same.
While the set-up of a Ferrari may be different to that of his former vehicle, elite drivers are expected to perform on the turn, regardless of the car, which is to some extent, what makes them elite.
Hamilton evidently struggled this season with Ferrari, and has found himself on the tail-end of his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Arguably, Leclerc has raced a Ferrari 2019, so the amount of steering time is incomparable.
In all fairness, Ferrari seem to be prioritising their commercial value with Hamilton over fighting for the championship, given the number of celebrities strutting about their garage during race weekends.
Can you blame them, though?
Hamilton transcended the F1 driver status, and is now a global celebrity, which comes with its own downside when you need 100% focus.
Hamilton’s sprint win was a glimmer of hope emerging through the dark clouds hovering over a bank-rolled yet title-less garage in the paddock that is Ferrari, who have searched for a taste of the glory Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen left in their mouths.
Neither Leclerc nor Hamilton have been able to keep up with the likes of Max Verstappen, Mercedes and McLaren this season.
Leclerc did claim his first podium of the season and the first for Ferrari last weekend, after seizing a P3 finish in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
P5 was the highest finish Hamilton achieved so far this season.
Hamilton is yet to finish ahead of Leclerc this season.
Now struggling to put points on the board, his future at Ferrari has been questioned by pundits and other drivers.
Former Red Bull driver Jaime Alguersuari was speaking on the After Lap podcast, and said he had a feeling Hamilton may leave the Prancing Horse.
“I don’t know why I am taking a risk by saying this. But I have a feeling that he’s like, his time has passed, that he’s already won a lot, that he’s already won everything and that he’s saying: ‘Okay, I’ve gone to Ferrari to try and see what happens in 2026,” Alguersuari said.
Ralf Schumacher told SkyF1 Hamilton can’t seem to handle the car, and even going so far as to say that he is losing it.
“We talk a lot about Lando, but I think it’s almost worse with Lewis. He’s starting to slump and that worries me. I know what that’s like. I used to drive myself, of course.
“And when you stand there at one point and you run out of aids and are slower and slower,” Schumacher said, adding that Hamilton may want to cut his losses and retire.
Sceptics aside, Hamilton has shown fight this season regardless of the absolute donkey Ferrari chose to put their drivers in.
The 40-year-old veteran still has 19 races to show the world why he will retire as one of the greatest to ever participate in the sport.
