Mattia Binotto has cast doubt on whether Lewis Hamilton still possesses the raw speed needed to excel in Formula 1.
The former Ferrari boss, who previously said he wouldn't have replaced Carlos Sainz with Hamilton if he'd stayed in charge, spoke candidly about the seven-time champion's current form.
Hamilton, now 40, left Mercedes last year after a dip in performance following his dramatic 2021 title loss to Max Verstappen on the final lap.
"He has brought great enthusiasm, passion, and a lot of experience to Ferrari," Binotto, now leading Audi-owned Sauber, told Corriere della Sera newspaper. "But that alone may not be enough."
Aside from a standout Shanghai sprint, Hamilton has trailed teammate Charles Leclerc in 2025. After qualifying P9 in Bahrain, he apologised over the radio to his team. "I'm not doing the job," he admitted post-session. "The car is a lot better than what I'm delivering with it."
Binotto elaborated: "We don't yet know how fast Lewis still is, and this experience will help him understand, since a strong driver adapts quickly. In these first races of 2025 we will see what the balance of power with Charles will be and what Charles's impact will be on him (Hamilton). These are question marks that I won't get into."
