Ex-Formula 1 driver and race winner Thierry Boutsen believes Lewis Hamilton may be struggling to give “100 percent” in his final year at Mercedes.
Boutsen, who raced in Formula 1 between 1983 and 1993, has questioned the level at which Hamilton is currently performing at, suggesting that “maybe he’s only driving at 98 percent.”
However, the 66-year-old, who won three grand prix during his time at Williams, doesn’t think it is a case of ‘phoning it in’ ahead of his move to Ferrari next season.
“I don’t think he’s moving on from Mercedes,” he said in an interview with PlanetF1.com. “But I see that, with all his experience and his age, it’s a little bit more difficult to give it 100 percent.
“Maybe he’s only driving at 98 percent. We saw it during the race [in Japan] when he asked whether he should let George [Russell] past him. A few years back, he would have been fighting like hell to stay ahead of him.”
“Now, when it gets worse like this one, he gets in a bad situation and he just gives up and gives Russell a chance to be better than him and to help the team to be better because he feels that he’s not in a position – or not capable – to perform as well, for whatever reason.”
The seven-time drivers’ world champion has been out-performed by his less experienced team-mate over the opening four rounds of the season. At Suzuka, Hamilton finished ninth after letting George Russell through to claim seventh at the chequered flag.
The 103-time race winner has scored just 10 points so far this season, his worst return at this stage of the season across his entire F1 career. Russell has over double his output, with 24.
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'A driver cannot bring a team to the top'
Boutsen maintained that a change of scenery may be exactly what Hamilton needs.
When asked if his move to Ferrari will help revitalise the 39-year-old, he replied: “Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.
“It’ll be very interesting to see how he revitalises himself and comes back into a winning spirit.”
Despite this, the Belgian does not believe that Hamilton alone will be enough to return the Italian team to championship-winning glory, arguing that the driver is less important to a team’s success than they maybe would have once been.
“I think a driver cannot bring a team to the top,” he explained.
“This is no longer the case – it was possible in the 1970s. And the ’80s. Maybe a little bit in the ’90s but, since then, it’s no longer possible.
“Otherwise, he would have beaten Verstappen last year, the year before, and would be winning the championship this year.
“Drivers are no longer involved in the development of the car, it’s more the computers and the engineers that build the car.”
Ferrari have been Red Bull’s closest challengers in 2024, with many contending that with further development this season, Hamilton might be enough to help them take the fight to F1’s current dominant power.
“To be the driver to bring Ferrari to this level, I don’t see that,” Boutsen added.
“If the Ferrari goes back to that level, it’s because they make a car that is capable of winning and, joining Ferrari at the end of this year, how much time will he have to build the team around him to build the car?”
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ItWasntMe
Lewis was showing Ferrari he thinks of the team rather himself. Sainz en Leclerc on multiple occasions were asked to switch positions. In the past Lewis always refused this at Mercedes similar to Verstappen ('NOOO!!! from 2015). Ferrari is all about the team effort. Ultimately Lewis finished 3 seconds behind Russel. Does that also mean Russel gave up? It funny how these self-claimed expert often have troubles seeing the bigger picture...
Parrot sound Goulding
“Otherwise, he would have beaten Verstappen last year, the year before, and would be winning the championship this year." This sentence is nonsense. For the last few years, Verstappen has been a faster and better driver than Hamilton.
Patrick Chapman
There is no doubt that Max has been at the top of his game the last few seasons but does that make him a better driver or a faster driver than Hamilton. I don't know and neither do you because you are not comparing apples with apples and that will never happen. We shall see how he does against Le Clerc and then we shall see if your statement has any validation. Personally I rate several drivers to be as good as Max but they simply don't have the same car. Try finishing your statements with IMO
Parrot sound Goulding
All I wrote was that, 'FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS', Verstappen has been a faster and better driver than Hamilton. I did not seek to compare them in Hamilton's heyday. I was critical of Thiery Boutsen's claim that, '“Otherwise, he would have beaten Verstappen last year, the year before, and would be winning the championship this year', a claim that suggests that Hamilton is objectively the better driver. I think that it is meaningless to claim that Verstappen, or Hamilton, is better than Schumacher, Senna, Clark or Fangio, for example. Actually, I disagree with you that, in 2024, there are other drivers who are as good as Verstappen. He is supremely fast and simply makes no mistakes; but I may be wrong. Obviously, all comments on this site are 'in the opinion of the writer'; it seems superfluous to use that term, IMO, on every occasion.
Patrick Chapman
@Parrot sound Goulding "For the last few years, Verstappen has been a faster and better driver than Hamilton." What you have written there is a statement of FACT and not an opinion. And you are quite incorrect so don't come back and try and tell me that that is your opinion because it won't wash. Your post is nonsense. You did compare them. English is my 1st language and I can read and my comprehension skills are better than most. I will not fall for your bull$$it baffles brains nonsense.
Parrot sound Goulding
You obviously did not read my final sentence that reads, "Obviously, all comments on this site are 'in the opinion of the writer'; it seems superfluous to use that term, IMO, on every occasion". So, what I wrote does not claim to be a statement of fact.