Damon Hill tells Lewis Hamilton ‘you can’t escape’ one problem that could spark his F1 retirement

Damon Hill has started to question whether Lewis Hamilton can “commit to what is needed” at Ferrari following his disappointing first season with the Maranello crew.

The 40-year-old made the move from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 F1 season after penning his worst finish in the drivers’ standings to date. Hamilton only secured seventh in the 2024 F1 drivers’ championship with 223 points, marking his lowest total since taking 189 in 2013.

Hamilton had already committed to joining Ferrari before the 2024 term, having agreed to a two-year contract with an optional third in February last year. But the move is yet to pay off, with Hamilton scoring 41 fewer points than after 14 rounds last year with 109 so far in 2025.

His new life with the pride of Italy has also seen Hamilton fail to secure a Grand Prix podium finish in the first 14 rounds of a season for the first time in the Briton’s 19-year F1 career. He had to wait until the 10th round of the 2009 and 2024 seasons for his previous worst start.

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Damon Hill warns Lewis Hamilton that he cannot ‘escape’ his age causing his Ferrari woes

The seven-time F1 champion’s plight has also persisted off the track since leaving Mercedes after 12 years. Hamilton has given Ferrari documents listing numerous issues he has seen in Maranello that he believes can be improved after comparing their operations to Mercedes’.

Hamilton has kept a notebook since his first days at Ferrari, in which he lists any complicated instructions, technical judgments and summaries of all meetings. But Hill feels Hamilton has to “stop” trying to change Ferrari, as he must focus his energy on what he needs to perform.

The 1996 drivers’ champion also thinks his British compatriot cannot “escape” his age being one of the reasons why Hamilton is struggling to adapt to Ferrari and to their car. So, it now remains to be seen if the 40-year-old can focus on what he needs to or if retirement awaits.

Hill has told BBC Sport: “Lewis has been doing this his whole life, since he was a kid, [dealing with] packing your bags, travelling [and] the jet lag. The 24-race season is really, really hard. You can get run down.

“The question is whether he can sit back and enjoy his time at Ferrari, take a bit of a break, and stop trying to change them. They bought him. They want him to succeed.

“But there is a point where you burn yourself out, you haven’t got any energy left, and then you can’t clear your mind. You need a very clear mind to race and commit to what is needed.

“Lewis has always considered himself exceptional, which he is. But there are some things that you can’t escape, which is the clock.”

Lewis Hamilton wants Ferrari to make widespread changes after struggling to adapt

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Hill’s curiosity follows Hamilton failing to earn a point in a Grand Prix he finished for the first time with Ferrari in Hungary, where he only managed to finish in P12. Additionally, Hamilton suggested Ferrari “need to change driver” and that he was “useless” after qualifying in P12.

Adapting to Ferrari’s methods and also their car has proven to be a huge ordeal for Hamilton after 12 years at Mercedes. The Scuderia are the first non-British F1 team he has ever driven for, having raced for McLaren for six years before joining Brackley-based Mercedes in 2013.

The difference in cultures between the teams has seen Hamilton urge Ferrari to change their methods, which Hill claims the 105-time Grand Prix winner should stop trying. Hamilton has struggled with Ferrari’s Brembo brakes, too, having preferred Carbon Industrie at Mercedes.