Damon Hill responds to Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘past prime’ remarks on Lewis Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly at the peak of his career having won seven World Championships and added to his tally of over 100 victories in 2024.

In one of the most highly anticipated moves in world sport, Hamilton will make the switch from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025 in a bid to secure his eighth Drivers’ title.

It is seen as the last big career move for one of the biggest titans of modern F1; the most successful driver paired with the oldest and most successful team. Hamilton will also be reunited with his junior formula team principal Frederic Vasseur, who has masterminded Ferrari’s recent resurgence.

Hamilton’s form in the last two seasons at Mercedes has been a far cry from his title-winning years with the team, having only achieved a single pole at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and won two races this season.

Former Top Gear and Grand Tour host Jeremy Clarkson remarked that Hamilton was “too old” and “past his prime” in a recent column for The Sun. Former F1 driver Damon Hill has responded to these claims in a post on Instagram stories.

Damon Hill thinks Jeremy Clarkson will ‘regret’ remarks on Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton will partner with Charles Leclerc in 2025 in what the Monagasque is expecting will be a title assault for Ferrari, given the gains they have made this season.

However, Clarkson took aim at Hamilton for blaming his car during the recent race in Sao Paulo where he finished in 10th place and 50 seconds off the pace.

The seven-time World Champion branded his race a ‘disaster’ while also criticising the resurface job that had been done around Interlagos, which appeared to be even more bumpy than the previous. Hamilton has spent much of the days after the race at the Mercedes factory to understand their problems.

Hill offered his response to Clarkson, who sometimes attends races, after his remarks over Hamilton’s season so far: “You may be lucky enough to regret saying that.”

Lewis Hamilton’s driving kept ‘making things worse’ in Sao Paulo GP

The wet conditions during the Sao Paulo GP presented a challenge for the drivers as the rain increased throughout the race.

Most decided to stay on the Intermediate tyres given the wets are often worse for grip levels, while some waited until a red flag instead of pitting for a new set.

READ MORE: Toto Wolff shares the Pep Guardiola advice he used when Lewis Hamilton told him he was leaving Mercedes

Hamilton struggled to break into the top ten places after dropping out of qualifying early on, something Peter Windsor believed was down to his lack of confidence in the rain.

Despite excelling in the rain, Fernando Alonso also struggled in the conditions due to the bumps and even told his team that his back was hurting. He finished the race as a tribute to his mechanics after they worked around the clock to get his car ready for the race after crashing it in qualifying hours earlier.