Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard believes that Lewis Hamilton is already ‘mentally’ at Ferrari after a disappointing start to the 2024 campaign. This season will be his final one with Mercedes after 12 years with the Silver Arrows.

Hamilton committed his long-term future to Mercedes partway through the 2023 season, signing a two-year extension that was set to keep him with the Brackley-based team until the end of the current technical regulations period in 2025. However, following an underwhelming end to last year, the seven-time world champion opted to shake things up.

The seven-time world champion had hoped to wrap up his long-term partnership with Mercedes in style, but Hamilton has endured a sluggish start to the season. The Brit qualified in P9 at the season opener in Bahrain before climbing to P7 during the Grand Prix.

Results didn’t improve at the following round in Saudi Arabia either as an unfavourable strategy call under an early safety car resigned Hamilton to a P9 finish, crossing the line behind Ferrari starlet and debutant, Oliver Bearman. Hamilton now sits down in ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship standings ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

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Speaking to Channel 4 about Hamilton’s start to the 2024 campaign, Coulthard said: “He’s just not been settled with this car. And you can tell, you know, George is just honing the lap time right now and you can feel that Lewis is on the back foot.

“What we do know though, if he does find a window of performance, then you know he will deliver. But right now, it’s looking like his decision to head off to Ferrari, mentally, he is already there.”

Hamilton’s proximity to the Ferrari duo was noticeable in Saudi Arabia. The 39-year-old was spotted chatting with future team-mate Charles Leclerc during the pre-race driver parade and had multiple conversations with Carlos Sainz’s stand-in Bearman throughout the weekend.

Despite his team’s struggles, Hamilton remains committed to pushing Mercedes forward. Outlining his hopes after the Saudi Arabian GP, he said: “It’s frustrating for sure to be three years in a row in almost the same position.

“Or it’s definitely tough, but we’ll get our heads down and we’ll keep working away, and I know everyone back at the factory is pushing as hard as they can, but we’ve definitely got to make some big changes.”