JUST IN: MAX VERSTAPPEN OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS AGE IS DESTROYING LEWIS HAMILTON’S SPEED AT FERRARI
Max Verstappen admits it "sucks" to see Lewis Hamilton struggle at Ferrari after a podium-less 2025 F1 season.
Max Verstappen said it was tough watching Lewis Hamilton struggle in his first F1 season with Ferrari.
After over ten years with Mercedes, Hamilton switched to Ferrari for 2025, but the move hasn't paid off so far.
The seven-time world champ had his first season ever without a single podium finish.
Hamilton ended up 86 points behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, in the SF-25. Ferrari wasn't very competitive, but the difference between the two drivers' results was still pretty obvious.
Hamilton also had a hard time in qualifying, ending the year with three straight Q1 exits. That's the worst he's done in qualifying since 2009.
The British racer often seemed sad during interviews, which made people wonder if he might retire.
But Hamilton has said that he's not planning to quit and that he'll keep racing, even though some people think he should leave F1.
Verstappen said he doesn't enjoy seeing Hamilton like this.
He told Viaplay, Well, to be very clear, it hasn't been a good season for him at Ferrari.
You can see it in everything, even on the radio during races. I have to say, it really sucks to see him like that.”
He continued, “For me, too, to be honest. I don’t like watching it.
I don’t know about him quitting, because I don’t think he's giving up. Lewis will still be around.”
Verstappen talked about the problems Hamilton is facing at Ferrari.
The Dutch driver also said that it's been hard for Hamilton to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.
If you don’t feel confident or relaxed with the team, you can't be yourself, and that makes a difference, Verstappen said.
You leave a team that was like family at Mercedes, where you built your whole career.
Everyone benefited from that. Then, going a totally different way is not easy, especially when you're up against someone (Charles Leclerc) who's been there a while. It's really tough.
Verstappen thinks age is another thing that's tough for Hamilton.
And age is not going to help you. You're not going to get faster at that age, maybe not slower, but not faster. Charles is still improving, so that doesn't help either.
Hamilton will be 41 in January and has a contract with Ferrari for the next two seasons.
Verstappen thinks it would be hard for a driver who loves the sport as much as Hamilton does to just walk away.
"If this is your whole life, it's very hard to give it up," he finished.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
