He is the driver who once told Lewis Hamilton to ‘grow up’ before losing his F1 seat the following season

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Lewis Hamilton has had plenty of rivals throughout his nearly 20-year Formula 1 career and has come out on top in the majority of his battles.

This year, he has embarked on what may be his biggest challenge ever. He has joined Ferrari to assist them in attempting to end a 17-year Formula 1 title drought.

Hamilton won at the second event of the year in China, but has struggled since the sprint in Shanghai. He’s not comfortable with their machinery and his old form looks a far cry away.

An eighth drivers’ championship seems a bit of a stretch, but the 2026 F1 regulations may be his best hope of a turnaround.

After his disappointing start to the year, Hamilton has Ferrari homework to do if he wants to compete at the front again anytime soon.

Most worryingly, Hamilton’s 168-race streak came to an end in Saudi Arabia as he had the biggest gap to a teammate since 2017.

READ MORE: Emerson Fittipaldi snubs ‘outstanding’ Lewis Hamilton to name ‘extraordinary’ driver as his favourite on the 2025 F1 grid

Adrian Sutil told Lewis Hamilton to ‘grow up’ after Mercedes F1 move in 2013

One of Hamilton’s close friends and rivals before a falling out was Adrian Sutil, with both having risen through the ranks to the top at a similar time.

Sutil started his career at the top level in 2007 with Spyker, before they became Force India in 2008. His best result in 128 starts was a fourth place at the 2009 Italian Grand Prix.

At the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, he was on for a podium in changeable conditions before the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen misjudged his braking in the middle sector and took his rear wing off.

He would go on to race with Force India until 2011, before taking a year off in 2012 and returning in 2013 with the same team.

It was then that he would seek to make up with Hamilton after a falling out. Sadly, it didn’t go as he would have hoped.

“There is a time when people have to grow up and he hasn’t done it,” he told The National, according to Autoweek.

“You suddenly go from being not interesting to being at the top and everyone loves you. You get the best from everywhere, you have a lot of money suddenly and this all affects your life.

“Hopefully, you wake up early and then you can sort out your life to be successful. Some people don’t get that. If you have only a lot of possessions and no friends, you will be a lonely and sad man.”

What happened to Adrian Sutil after the 2013 Formula 1 season?

Following a mixed return in 2013, Sutil left Force India once again to join Sauber, where he raced with the number 99 in 2014.

It would go on to be one of the worst years of his career, scoring no points in a miserable campaign for the Swiss outfit.

He signed a deal to be Williams’ reserve driver in 2015, but didn’t get to step into the cockpit again.

Sutil then remained out of competitive racing for eight years before making a return in 2022 in the Ferrari Challenge series.

He took a victory and followed it up with another in 2023, but hasn’t raced since those exploits. Nowadays, he can be seen driving his exquisite car collection around Monaco.