"A real shame": Dutch racer gets real about Lewis Hamilton's failure to beat 'beast' Charles Leclerc

Dutch racer Tim Coronel has shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton going up against Charles Leclerc in his first year at Ferrari, claiming that it was "a real shame" that the Briton has fallen short. He also ranked Leclerc highly, describing him as a "beast".

Hamilton was always going to have a tough time settling into a new team after a decade with Mercedes. He was also going up against Charles Leclerc, who is one of the quickest drivers on the current F1 grid.

But even amid this, many expected the 7x world champion to succeed straight away at Ferrari, mainly thanks to his reputation and the hype around the move. But reality was different as Hamilton endured a challenging first season at Maranello, failing to stand on the podium even once and being beaten comprehensively by Leclerc.

Now, Dutch racing driver Tim Coronel has had his say on Hamilton's first year in scarlet red overalls, claiming it is "a real shame" to see him being outperformed by Leclerc.

"Leclerc is really fast. He's a beast. Don't forget that Leclerc grew up in the Max, Norris, Ocon era. Those four made each other so strong. But Hamilton has fallen far short of that beast. I think that's a real shame," Coronel told RacingNews365.

Coronel then said that he hopes to see Lewis Hamilton make a proper comeback amid the new regulations era in 2026. He refused to rule the Briton out or Leclerc even after Ferrari's forgettable season in 2025.

The Italian team took a step backwards after finishing as runners up in 2024, slipping to P4 in the standings in 2025. Better things are expected internally in 2026, with Hamilton also hoping for a turnaround after a difficult debut season with his new team.

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Coronel reflects on "true hero" Lewis Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 - Source: Getty

Tim Coronel has said it was sad to watch Lewis Hamilton struggle during his first season with Ferrari in 2025. He described the 40-year-old as a "true hero" and admitted he expected Hamilton to thrive after moving to a new environment in Italy.

Speaking to the aforementioned outlet, Coronel listed out things he thought would go in Hamilton's favor, before conceding that the driver seems to have declined rather than improved in 2025.

"I actually think it's a bit sad. Let's be honest, Lewis Hamilton is a true hero. I expected him to settle down in a warm and welcoming environment. I thought: Italy, warm weather, good food, a cozy atmosphere, Fred Vasseur already knew him from their time together in GP2," said Coronel. "I really thought he would revive, that we'd see the old Hamilton again, that we'd see that fire in him again. But I've actually seen him decline even further," he added.

Hamilton finished the 2025 season P6 in the drivers' standings, 86 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc in P5. As previously mentioned, he failed to finish on the podium throughout the season, and the highlight of his year came in Round 2 when he won the Chinese GP sprint.

Edited by Mitali