F1 legend David Coulthard has revealed he’s ‘worried’ about Lewis Hamilton ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
The 40-year-old is currently preparing for his first race with Ferrari, having joined from Mercedes after a glittering stint with the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton has, however, a point to prove given his inconsistent form in recent years.
The Stevenage-born racer has been unable to challenge for the F1 title ever since being denied a record eighth crown in controversial circumstances in 2021.
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton is preparing for his first race with Ferrari as the Australian Grand Prix looms
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Hamilton’s form in qualifying has also dipped, leading to fears that he may be on the wane.
And Coulthard, speaking on the RacingNews 365 podcast, has now admitted that he’s got some concerns about the veteran as the first race of the new season approaches.
“Somehow you always find a way to exploit whatever you’ve got to the best of your ability,” he said.
“And I think the exceptionals just do that to a higher level.
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“So, the worrying thing about Lewis in the last couple of years was just he didn’t seem to be as settled with the performance profile of the car.
“Now, that’s either because he had racing driver fatigue, he’s been doing it for so long that he needed that change.
“And sometimes in life and work or in relationships, you need a change just to rediscover your mojo and he certainly seems to be, well, in a Hollywood script, Lewis going to Ferrari, he looks incredible, he’s defying his age in terms of how fit he is.
“He comes off the back of being the most successful driver in the history of the sport.
F1 news: David Coulthard has some concerns about Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
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There are so many things to be excited about that I think that we just can’t write the final chapter.
“There will be a final chapter, and it may be in two years’ time, certainly going to be within the next five years, I would imagine.
“But there will be a final chapter and then we’ll be able to make that judgement.”
Hamilton, for his part, is out to silence his critics.
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The former Mercedes and McLaren star has been enjoying his time at Ferrari so far and is confident of a successful campaign ahead.
“It’s one thing seeing it from outside, but then when you’re actually in it, it’s pretty extreme, it’s pretty incredible,” he said recently when asked about his time in his new surroundings.
“Just from speaking to the whole team, seeing the whole team at the factory all in one space and seeing how passionate and excited everyone [is], walking around all the different departments… people who just live and breathe Ferrari.
“It’s what you grow up dreaming of getting to work at, those smaller places and towns in Italy where they’ve grown up dreaming of one day being there.
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton has been enjoying his time with Ferrari so far
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“[You can see] how proud they are to work there, and how much pride they take in their work is really beautiful to see.
“The Tifosi, I could see it obviously watching Charles [Leclerc] and Carlos [Sainz] over the years and with Sebastian [Vettel], but to be on the receiving end of it is a new experience that I couldn’t have imagined exactly.”