Max Verstappen shows unexpected sympathy for Lewis Hamilton’s difficult Ferrari season – The Dutchman admits that it pains him to see him struggle.
For Lewis Hamilton, the 2025 Formula 1 season was anything but a fairy tale with a happy ending. Despite a sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, the Brit often struggled to keep up with the pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc. The bitter result of his first season in red: not a single podium finish in a Grand Prix.
At the end of the year, the seven-time world champion seemed visibly perplexed, as he was unable to get the most out of the difficult Ferrari SF-25. Statistically, it was the worst season in Hamilton’s 19-year career in the premier class. Max Verstappen, now a four-time world champion, who fought some of his greatest battles against the Briton, is affected by this situation. “It wasn’t a good season for him, of course,” Verstappen said in an interview with Viaplay. “You can tell from everything, for example from the pit radio.” When the interviewer interjects that the situation “really hurts,” the Dutchman responds honestly: “Me too. I don’t like to see that.”
Although he knows nothing about a possible early end to Hamilton’s career, the sight of the struggling champion is “not nice.”
Rumors of retirement and the age factor
Verstappen is alluding to rumors of Hamilton’s early retirement, which the soon-to-be 41-year-old quickly denied. Next year, Hamilton will be the fourth-oldest Formula 1 driver in the 21st century.
Fernando Alonso is the undisputed leader in this statistic. The Spaniard, who made his debut in 2001, will be 45 years old in the 2026 season. He is already the oldest driver since Graham Hill in 1975 and continues to have his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll firmly under control.
But Verstappen warns that the sport takes its toll with age—and he himself definitely does not plan to stay in the cockpit that long. “I think what you miss most… is more the physical discomfort,” explains the Red Bull driver. “You suffer more from certain things. These cars aren’t the most comfortable to drive anyway.”
“And when you’re older, you naturally suffer more. Your shoulders, your back, your neck. I think it takes a little more effort to keep everything in shape. So you have to focus on that a lot more,” says Verstappen, analyzing the physical component.
The question of motivation: Why still drive?
For him personally, one thing is certain: “I believe that at 40 or 44, I won’t be the same as I am now. But maybe not in terms of motivation. And if you’re not sitting in a top car, then definitely not.”
This can also be observed with Alonso. “I think if Fernando were in a top car, then… Like in 2023, he could fight for a podium. Then you see the fighter coming back,” says Verstappen.
But the battle in the midfield is wearing down the champion: “But when you’ve been world champion twice and won a lot and you’re driving for tenth place, yes, then you think to yourself: [Why am I doing this?].”