Age may be catching up with Lewis Hamilton, according to former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld.
Since his controversial title loss to Max Verstappen in 2021, Hamilton's performance has dipped – with results and outright pace failing to return to championship-contending form.
The seven-time world champion has been open about his discomfort with F1's current regulations, admitting he hasn't enjoyed the ground effect era and is unenthusiastic about the upcoming 2026 changes.
"I don't think, personally, it's going in the right direction," Hamilton, 40, told Sky Italia.
"We're going slower, the cars are heavier. Next year they'll be lighter, but they're still the heaviest I've driven."
While Mercedes' struggles didn't prevent Hamilton from securing a lucrative move to Ferrari, his start with the Italian team has been modest.
"I think there's more coming," Heidfeld, 48, said in Monaco while working with Sky Deutschland.
"If the car suits him, he can still perform at his best. We saw that in China. But compared to (Charles) Leclerc, he's currently lagging behind – especially in qualifying," he told Sport1.
Heidfeld doesn't believe Hamilton's ability has vanished – but that age is beginning to have an effect.
"Even if some people don't like to hear it, he's not the youngest anymore," he said.
"If you compare him to the Hamilton of five or ten years ago, you can clearly see the differences."
However, he drew a distinction between Hamilton's current form and Michael Schumacher's less successful comeback with Mercedes.
"Not quite," Heidfeld said. "Michael was out for several years, while Lewis has kept going.
"But it shows that after many years in the same environment, a team change is difficult. Lewis was perfectly integrated at Mercedes – now he has to get used to a new car. And the older you get, the harder it is to make a fresh start."
Heidfeld also named Carlos Sainz, who was displaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, as the surprise of the season.
"I was surprised that he went to a weaker team like Williams," he said. "But together they've improved tremendously."
