2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has questioned whether his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton may be experiencing a decline in performance with age. This comes after the seven-time world champion turned 40 earlier this year.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1’s broadcast on the Thursday of the Spanish Grand Prix, Rosberg analysed Hamilton’s 2025 season so far, claiming that it’s a continuation of his form during his final year with Mercedes. Rosberg explained:
“It’s a little bit of a continuation of his form from last year, where there was already a bit of a dip there. George had the upper hand and was beating him at Mercedes. Now it’s kind of continued a little bit. He’s just a little bit lacking here and there, especially in ultimate pace in qualifying.
“We know Charles is an incredible qualifier, so Lewis has to find a little bit more there. Even if he’s the greatest of all time, at some point, you are going to get a little bit slower – that’s age related. And when you’re 40, it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. So the question is whether that age has come where you start to get a little bit slower.
“Even a tenth makes a huge difference in this sport, especially when you’re up against some of the greatest from the new generation, such as Charles Leclerc, who’s considered one of the absolute best qualifiers out there.”
As the second-oldest driver on the grid after 43-year-old Fernando Alonso, Hamilton has been fighting against this idea for some time. During an interview with Time Magazine earlier this year, he responded to concerns about his age preventing him from being successful in the sport. He explained:
“The old man is a state of mind,” said Hamilton. “Of course your body ages. But I’m never going to be an old man.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
He added, firmly:
“Don’t ever compare me to anybody else. I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport. I’m built different. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve had my own journey. You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula 1 driver in history. Because they are nothing like me. I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife and kids. I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning. That’s my number one priority.”
Hamilton moved to Ferrari in 2025 after a 12-year stint with Mercedes. During his time with the Brackley outfit, he secured six of his seven drivers’ championship titles and many expected him to see out the remainder of his time in F1 with the Silver Arrows. However, the British driver was keen to achieve his lifelong dream of driving for the iconic Scuderia as he fights for a record-breaking eighth championship.
The transition to the new squad has taken some time. However, it is worth noting that Leclerc has also found the SF25 to be more challenging than the 2024 car. After competing more directly with McLaren in the constructors’ championship last year, the Monegasque explained that he had to alter his driving style this year to manage the behaviour of the SF25. He explained to the media in Miami:
“It’s always very difficult to compare drivers’ feelings, because if you don’t feel at ease, there’s always something that you struggle with more than the other driver, that’s why you can’t go as fast.
“On my side, this year we’ve gone in quite extreme directions in terms of set-up, in order to extract a bit more out of the car, so I feel like I’m changing quite a lot of my driving style in order to fit the new requirements from this car.
“However, there might be things that, it’s been seven years that I’ve been with Ferrari, so there are most likely things that are also very natural to me now, after so many years with the team that I don’t realise enough, even though I feel like I’ve been driving quite differently this year, just because this car requires a different setup and a different way of driving.”
