Brundle Casts Doubt on Hamilton's Ability to Beat Leclerc After Tough Ferrari Season

Martin Brundle has delivered a blunt verdict on Lewis Hamilton's debut season with Ferrari, asserting that based on 2025 results, Hamilton no longer possesses the skillset to defeat his teammate, Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion was thoroughly outperformed, failing to secure a single Grand Prix podium while Leclerc scored seven, leaving Hamilton 86 points adrift in the standings. However, the upcoming wholesale regulation changes for 2026 are seen as a critical opportunity for a reset.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's highly anticipated move to Ferrari was one of the biggest stories in modern F1, yet his on-track struggles against Leclerc have cast a shadow over his legacy and the team's immediate future. A driver of Hamilton's caliber being so clearly outmatched raises serious questions about his adaptability and whether Ferrari can build a championship-winning package around him for 2026.

The details:

• Hamilton was soundly beaten by Leclerc, with the Monegasque driver taking all seven of the team's podiums and finishing 86 points ahead. Hamilton's sole victory was in the China Sprint, and he ended the season with four consecutive Q1 eliminations.
• When asked if Hamilton, who will turn 41 in 2026, could still beat a driver like Leclerc, Brundle was direct: "Not on this year’s results, no."
• Qualifying Struggles: Former teammate Nico Rosberg highlighted Hamilton's qualifying pace as the primary issue, noting his "flashes of brilliance" in races were consistently undermined by poor one-lap performance.
• Hamilton's Take: Hamilton himself downplayed the concerns, attributing the performance gap to the time needed to build relationships with a new team, contrasting his situation with Leclerc's "well-oiled machine" that has been years in the making.

What's next:

The 2026 season represents a pivotal moment for both Hamilton and Ferrari, with radical new chassis and engine regulations set to level the playing field. The significantly different handling characteristics of the next-generation cars could potentially play to Hamilton's strengths and help him rediscover his qualifying form. If Ferrari can produce a competitive car and Hamilton can adapt, the team could finally mount a serious championship challenge, silencing the current doubts.