David Coulthard Left Totally Confused by Lewis Hamilton’s Shocking Decision

David Coulthard has admitted that he remains completely confused by Lewis Hamilton’s recent decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari. Hamilton, who confirmed the move ahead of his final season with Mercedes, surprised many fans and experts who thought he would likely retire with the Silver Arrows after building a strong legacy with the team.

The switch became official before the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, making it a farewell season for the longstanding partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes.

Since arriving at Ferrari, Hamilton has struggled to adjust to the SF-25 car. He has found it difficult to match the consistent pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc.

[Hamilton’s struggle with Ferrari and Leclerc](https://fervogear.com/2025/05/28/news/nascar/hamilton-ferrari-leclerc/) has been a talking point throughout the season.

Hamilton has managed some strong moments, including taking sprint race pole and a sprint race win at Shanghai. However, he has yet to score a Grand Prix podium in a Ferrari, falling short of what many expected when the move was announced.

Over the earlier part of the 2025 season, Hamilton has been consistently outperformed by Leclerc at most events.

Coulthard likened Hamilton’s surprise move to Ferrari to Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1 with Mercedes after years of success at Ferrari. Both drivers, in Coulthard’s view, left behind strong bonds and winning relationships.

“I always felt that Lewis had developed a special bond and loyalty with Mercedes,” Coulthard told BILD when asked about the move. He added that the switch left him totally confused, drawing parallels with Schumacher’s famous comeback, which was also seen as a great departure from an already established legacy.

Despite the strong reputation that follows Hamilton, results so far show he is in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, with just 71 points collected. He trails Leclerc by 23 points and sits a full 115 points behind the current championship leader, Oscar Piastri, who leads with 186 points.

From Coulthard’s perspective, the numbers and on-track performance make an eighth title in 2025 unlikely for Hamilton. “No, it doesn’t look like it,” the Scottish former driver said plainly when asked about Hamilton’s title chances this year.

The season continues this weekend, with the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve scheduled for June 15. Following that, the teams and drivers will travel to the Red Bull Ring in Austria on June 29, Silverstone in Britain on July 6, Spa in Belgium on July 27, and the Hungaroring in Hungary on August 3. The upcoming races mark crucial opportunities for drivers like Hamilton to improve their standings, similar to previous challenges he faced, such as
his notable Monaco performances
earlier this year.

These events will be crucial for drivers hoping to close the gap in the standings or improve their positions, especially for Hamilton as he searches for his first Grand Prix podium with Ferrari.

At the sharp end of the constructors’ standings, McLaren leads with 362 points, the pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris performing strongly this year. Ferrari sits second with 165 points, still ahead of Mercedes on 159, Red Bull with 144, Williams on 54, and Racing Bulls with 28.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton form the Ferrari lineup for 2025, while Mercedes fields George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Red Bull continues with Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda, and McLaren is led by Norris and Piastri, who are both enjoying a competitive streak.

Looking ahead, many fans and pundits are watching to see if Hamilton can turn around his form at Ferrari. There is always the potential for a breakthrough result, but the early season pace puts Leclerc and the McLaren drivers firmly in the fight for the championship.

For now, Coulthard and many in the paddock remain intrigued by the reasons behind Hamilton’s move—and how it will shape the latter part of his already storied career.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.