Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton appears to have given up all hope for the 2025 season, according to his own comments following a difficult weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix .

Meanwhile, former driver and commentator Martin Brundle has issued a damning verdict on the Briton’s performance with Ferrari.

What looked like a promising new start following his victory in the Sprint Race at the Chinese GP quickly turned into a series of disappointments.

Hamilton finished sixth in the feature race in Shanghai, seventh in Japan, and fifth in Bahrain. But it was in Saudi Arabia that his frustration peaked: he finished seventh, more than 30 seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc , who made it onto the podium.

“It’s going to be painful all year.”

After the race, Hamilton held nothing back and offered a bleak outlook for the remainder of the year.

“There’s nothing. The balance, the feeling with the car… I just don’t feel the car underneath me. There’s no specific problem. I can’t say, ‘This is the problem.’”

“Right now, there’s no solution. This is what it’s going to be like for the rest of the year. It’s just going to be painful,” Hamilton said, hinting that he doesn’t expect significant improvements for the remainder of the season.

These words set off alarm bells in the paddock and also provoked an immediate reaction from Martin Brundle, who did not hesitate to question the British driver’s justifications.

Brundle doesn’t believe it: “I don’t understand why he doesn’t understand the car.”

During the GP coverage, Brundle analyzed Hamilton’s poor performance and expressed skepticism about his statements.

“Fred Vasseur summed it up: it’s been an up-and-down season. There were times when Hamilton was lapping in the mid-1:32s, which is a competitive pace,” Brundle explained.

“He finished 31 seconds behind Leclerc. It’s true that he had a bit more traffic because he started further back, but even so… it was inconsistent.”

The former driver was even more critical, pointing out that Hamilton has already had enough time to adapt to Ferrari’s new car:

“I find it hard to believe he doesn’t understand the car. It’s new, yes, but we’re already approaching May; they’ve had the whole preseason…”

Brundle was blunt in his conclusion:

“I think Lewis hasn’t connected with this car and isn’t getting the setup right either. We know that at Mercedes he liked to have the car set up a certain way, and obviously he can’t achieve that here. He’s having a tough few days.”

Uncomfortable comparisons and a clear disconnect

To make matters worse, Brundle compared Hamilton’s case to youngster Oliver Bearman , who surprised on his Ferrari debut last season:

“Bearman only needed a day to adapt, although of course, he was learning a car from scratch, not ‘relearning’ it. But still, I’m not convinced by that explanation. We know Lewis is better, that he’s faster than that. Something’s not working. There’s no connection.”

A lost season?

With each race, Hamilton’s chances of fighting for the title seem to fade. His frustration, coupled with his lack of adaptation to the Ferrari, are fueling rumors that 2025 could simply be a transitional year… or even one to forget.

At 40 years old and with a legendary career behind him, no one doubts his talent. But the truth is that if he doesn’t find that connection with his car and his team, this season could turn out to be one of the dullest of his illustrious career.