
Lewis Hamilton ‘struggling' in battle with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, says Fernando Alonso
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has identified a concerning factor in Lewis Hamilton 's struggle for form at Ferrari.
The British driver switched from Mercedes ahead of the current season, but has not managed a podium finished since. His best was a fourth-place in Italy last month, with a constant struggle for results that better his fellow Ferrari driver.
Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc has three podium finishes to his name this season, with a second-place in his hometown of Monaco making his best return.
Speaking to Planet F1, Alonso, 43, said: 'Lewis is a great driver, he's capable of exploiting all his strengths. After 24 races, we'll do the math: he's struggling now, but he can turn things around very quickly.'
The Aston Martin driver has hit onto a theme of Hamilton's recent form. He related his deficit to Leclerc to his prior record against then- Mercedes partner George Russell last season.
'I don't think the situation has changed much compared to last year with Russell. Then, the Mercedes was apparently difficult to drive and Russell was more comfortable. This year seems to be the same,' he explained.
In the 2024 standings, Russell finished one place ahead of Hamilton in sixth, with 245 points compared to the seven-time world champion's 223. Currently, Leclerc sits in fifth with his British teammate yet to pass the century mark and Mercedes replacement Kimi Antonelli just behind him.
However, Alonso added: 'It's difficult to give an opinion without having all the information.'
Hamilton will hope his form begins to turn around as F1 rolls into Austria on 27 June.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Top Gear
40 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Skoda students have turned this Superb Estate into a bike-carrying pickup truck
Plug-in hybrid Superb becomes a ute with a clever bike rack and a sliding rear door to support pro bike racers Skoda loves cycling. Of course, the Czech firm started out with Václav Laurin and Václav Klement making bicycles all the way back in 1895, and in slightly more recent times it has been a main partner of the Tour de France for over two decades. So it's perhaps no surprise this year's concept car produced by the students of the Skoda Academy in Mladá Boleslav is a cyclist's dream support vehicle. Christened the Skoda L&K 130, this is the first Skoda student concept to be based on the Superb Estate, and the kids have turned it into a rad pickup style thing with space for two bikes on the racks in the extendable bed, and another on the roof.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Former Liverpool fan favourite is SACKED after suffering relegation from Belgian top flight... as club reveals they've already hired his replacement
Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt has been fired as manager of Belgian side Beerschot. The 44-year-old was appointed by Beerschot in December 2023 and guided the club to promotion to the Belgian Pro League in his first season. However, the club struggled in the top flight and were relegated after just five wins from 36 matches. Beerschot have now parted ways with Kuyt despite his popularity with supporters. 'The club sincerely thank Dirk Kuyt for his commitment, dedication and positive contribution,' said Beerschot in a statement. 'His energy and involvement were a source of inspiration within the team. We wish him every success in the continuation of his coaching career. 'The new head coach will be introduced later today.' Speaking last month, Kuyt admitted he was unhappy criticised the club's poor facilities 'The worst thing I found was that at one point we simply didn't have a field to train on', he told Het Laatste Nieuws. 'We couldn't train on the field during the last training session before our home match against Union Saint-Gilloise, as there was no training ground available and our main field was being rebuilt. We worked in the gym and prepared the boys with video footage.' He added: 'At one point, I started driving around Antwerp itself looking for fields to train on. I saw amateur clubs that had five or six fields, while we didn't have a single one. It was appalling. I mean what I say: I don't feel too good for anything. I'm happy to work hard and give it my all, but only in the role for which I was hired.' The Dutchman previously managed Feyenoord's youth sides and had a short-lived stint in charge of ADO Den Haag, where he was also sacked after just 16 games. As a player, Kuyt is best known in England for his time at Liverpool where he became a fan favourite. During his six seasons on Merseyside the former Holland international scored 71 goals in 285 games for the Reds and was part of their 2011-12 League Cup success - scoring in the final against Cardiff City. He departed Merseyside in 2012 and joined Fenerbahce where he spent three years before make the switch back to Feyenoord and eventually retiring in 2017. At international level, Kuyt made 104 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring 24 goals.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Ten family car favourites from 70s to 90s and their value today – from iconic Ford worth THOUSANDS to budget Vauxhall
SEVERAL iconic family favourite vehicles from the last three decades have a new worth today. From the Ford to Vauxhall, these cars that were once common among British families in the 1970s, '80s and '90s still have value in 2025. 9 9 9 Austin Allegro (1973-1982) Value today: £1,200 (Allegro 1.0 saloon) to £7,600 (Allegro Equipe, concours condition) The Allegro was one of the popular vehicle choices for car buyers with families, as well as being company vehicles for employers. In typical shades of Russet brown and Applejack green of the seventies, the Allegro brings a nostalgia. This is despite its known maladies as a vehicle in the contemporary world, and even back in the day. They have been justified to be a worthy classic car and collector item, due not only to the Austin brand, but also its unique Hydragas suspension and style. Editor of the UK Hagerty Price Guide, John Mayhead, has witnessed the steady rise in value of all Austin Allegro variants over the past decade whilst monitoring the value of classic cars in auction prices and policyholder quotes. He said: "Last year, only 7 per cent of all models in the Hagerty Price Guide rose in value." From the late 1960s up to the 2000s, families in Britain were likely to have one of the five generations of Ford Escorts. Children could enjoy riding in the back of these vehicles, whether in the lower trimmed Mk2 or more spacious and utilitarian third and fourth generations. Classic car graveyard found in field where a 1960s classic with rare feature worth up to $150K has been left to rot The Mk3 and Mk4 had a transverse engine layout, with a hatchback style rather than saloon. Models ranged from three and five-door hatches, as well as cabrio or sport versions with the XR3, XR3i, and RS1600i variants. To this day, there's still a lot to admire about the Escort, particularly with the Fast Ford racing and performance versions. They are highly collectable with a thriving club scene, and base models can still be found for cheap at around £3,000. Reliant Scimitar (1975 - 1986) Value today: £3,300 to £9,000 (GTE SE5a) The Reliant Scimitar GTE was an attractive choice of vehicle for those wanting something more exciting than a saloon or estate, but also looking for practicality. It became a performance motor offering a four-seat layout to appear as a family car too. In addition to the layout, the GTE provides a glass hatchback and proper boot, fibreglass body more durable against rust and well-proven Ford mechanics. Cost around £2,300 in 1973, the GTE became a viable cheaper alternative to something like an Audi 100 or 3.0-litre Granada GXL. Since last year, the Scimitar GTE has seen a slight dip in value, but remained relatively stagnant since 2016. John adds that some have been restored to a very high standard: "Lots of very cheap restoration cases available, but not for the faint-hearted." Austin Montego (1984 - 1995) Value today: £800 (Montego 1.3 saloon) to £11,000 (MG Montego Turbo, concours) Montegos have been considered the "most ordinary" of vehicles, but were certainly among the most popular of its time. A solid family car by Austin that had built its reputation for decades, Specifically, as a blue saloon built in 1989, they could regularly be seen parked in driveways or out on roads. Whilst they where just about everywhere in the 1980s, they became almost extinct by the 1990s. The Montego has increased in value as a vehicle model in 2025, following a flat period. 9 9 9 Citroen BX (1982 - 1994) Value today: £900 (S1 1.4 hatchback) to £10,100 (BX Sport, concours) This French saloon spanned the years of 1982 to 1994, with a styling that became a major success. The BX's lineup of XUD four-cylinders were among the best frugal diesels of the '80s. Whilst demand for the Citroen BX was not exceptionally high in the UK, the model reached great heights in France. A well-preserved 1992 BX 16S even sold for over €47,000 in 2021. Renault Espace Mk1 (1984 - 1991) Value today: £1,100 to £12,400 (Turbo D) Despite famously being a flop when first released for sale in 1984, the Espace soon became a European favourite as parents recognised its value. With several back seats, it was one of the easiest cars for loading kids in the back, who were able to thereby see through the vehicle's large glass windows. Families warmed up to this Renault's bold box shape, following 12 months of struggle for sales of this multi-purpose vehicle. John suggested: "Early versions of this groundbreaking vehicle are beginning to become very collectable. "Now rare in any configuration, they are not expensive cars and if you can find one, a fair runner could be under £2,000." Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2 (1983 - 1992) Value today: £900 (Driver) to £23,800 (GTI 16v) The VW Golf GTI Mk2 was an exciting release for car-loving families, coming with five doors and more space for practical and better riding. It was a reliable car too with its Volkswagen reputation, better fuel economy and improved comfort. It was also capable of reaching more than 130mph. John said: "For a long time, Mk 2 Golf values lagged far behind their Mk 1 predecessors, especially in the iconic GTI configuration, but in the last couple of years, they have gained ground. "There's a lot of love for this model, and although prices are down a little from their 2023 high, the general trend has been growth for the past 12 years." Ford Mondeo Mk1 (1993 - 2000) Value today: £800 (first-generation 1.6) to £8,500 (ST220) After their release in 1993, Mondeos became a common sight on roads through the mid-90s. They served as private motors, company vehicles, police cars, trade workhorses, and even appeared in the British Touring Car Championship. "Excluding motorsport variants, the Mondeo is a very affordable classic with even performance versions being available for under £5,000," John said. They are likely to become increasingly collectable as first generation cars that are more of a rarity. Rover 75 (1999 - 2005) Value today: £900 (2.0 CDTi) to £16,100 (MG ZT, concours) The Rover 75 featured a retro design both internally and externally, providing class and comfort, more than image or rock-hard suspension. Popular particularly among the older enthusiasts, the 75 has not seen a major decline in customers since first releasing in 1999. It is a car that is greatly designed for the pothole-riddled roads of Britain, known for its toughness and rarity. The model has therefore not seen much of a change to its value, holding their price as many other classics are dropping. Vauxhall Zafira A (1999 - 2005) Value today: £550 (1.6 Base) to £7000 (1.8 Elegance, concours) Sales of this smaller MPV skyrocketed after being put on the market. As a seven-seater hatchback, it was a clever car with fine driving characteristics, and based on the Astra G platform. Today, they are rare to find in good condition. 9 9