Martin Brundle tells Lewis Hamilton to remember he’s ‘privileged’ after hearing his latest complaint

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Martin Brundle has called Lewis Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari a “disappointment”, having seen the seven-time champion struggle too often after joining from Mercedes.

The Scuderia seized the opportunity to sign Hamilton in February 2024, in a move that then meant the pride of Italy released Carlos Sainz at the end of his contract to create a space for 2025. But Hamilton has not produced anywhere near the levels of success that he expected.

Hamilton cannot finish the 2025 campaign any higher than sixth in the F1 drivers’ standings, which would mark his joint-second-worst result to date. He has only ranked lower when the Briton came seventh in his final year with Mercedes in 2024, but having scored more points.

Ferrari have only seen Hamilton score 152 points during his first 22 rounds in red, which also puts the record 105-time Grand Prix winner on course for his worst return under the scoring system introduced in 2010. Hamilton achieved 223 points and won two Grands Prix last year.

Martin Brundle does not like Lewis Hamilton saying he is ‘not looking forward’ to 2026

Having failed to record a podium, let alone win a Grand Prix, in 2025, Hamilton dubbed 2025 his “worst season ever” in F1 after finishing last week’s Las Vegas GP in P8. Retiring from the Sao Paulo GP also saw Hamilton admit that his first year with Ferrari has been a “nightmare”.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

But on top of calling 2025 the worst season of his 19-year F1 career, Hamilton stated that he is “not looking forward” to next term. Brundle sympathises with Hamilton’s situation, but he does not like hearing an F1 driver claim they are not enthusiastic about what is still to come.

Brundle said on Sky Sports F1 (28/11, 13:18): “I think he thought it would go better than it has. It’s been frustrating. And, of course, we’ve now had two seasons where the young gun in George Russell and Charles Leclerc have outperformed Lewis.

“He’s taken his time to get into the team. He was so engaged, so immersed in Mercedes. So, I think the second half of the season, he’s looked faster, better, stronger.

“We’ve seen flashes of the old brilliance of Lewis Hamilton on a number of occasions. But, overall, it’s been a disappointment.

“I, personally, don’t like to hear any Formula 1 driver talk about it’s going to be difficult [or] we’re not looking forward to anything, because it’s such a privileged position to be driving in Formula 1. But I can understand why he’s a bit down-and-out about it.”

Lewis Hamilton’s emotions after a year of frustration are fuelling his bleak admissions

Hamilton admitted that he is not looking forward to 2026 following his latest frustrating race weekend with Ferrari at the Las Vegas GP. He qualified last on pure pace for the first time in his career in Sin City, and finished P10 on the road before McLaren’s double disqualification.

The 40-year-old’s emotions in the moment played a big part in how he voiced how he felt in Las Vegas last weekend. Hamilton has also suffered blow after blow since he quit Mercedes for Ferrari, in the hope that realising his childhood dream would usher him back to the top.

Title fights have been distant dreams for Hamilton since F1 re-introduced ground-effect cars in 2022, having never adapted to the driving style that the current regulations require. Next year could offer a reset, however, as the 2026 regulations should suit Hamilton’s style more.