Formula One legend David Coulthard said Lewis Hamilton was the biggest disappointment of the 2024 season after a difficult final year with Mercedes.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton finished seventh in the drivers' championship last year, the lowest placing in his entire career, after announcing last February that he would leave to join Ferrari in 2025.

Despite his struggles, there were some highlights, including a record ninth race victory at the British Grand Prix, his first win since topping the podium in Saudi Arabia in 2021.

But overall, Hamilton performed poorly last season, with team-mate George Russell out-qualifying him on 19 of the 24 circuits during the campaign. His downturn in form was not lost on Coulthard when asked about the most underwhelming part of 2024.

"I would still point to Lewis as the biggest disappointment," the 13-time Grand Prix winner said.

"I know that's controversial as he's a seven-time world champion and a real winning machine, but I've never seen this Lewis in Formula 1. He was beaten in qualifying, while the greats can always find speed somewhere to squeeze out a qualifying lap when it really matters."

Hamilton celebrated his 40th birthday this week and his difficulties last season have raised concerns that he may no longer be at the top of his game.

While there have already been benefits for Ferrari in signing up Hamilton so early, Coulthard believes they will be concerned that his on-track form could continue into next season.

"Ferrari, of course, signed him early in the year and then everyone was very enthusiastic," he said.

"Ferrari's shares shot up so fast that they have probably already eliminated all the costs of bringing in Lewis and [team principal Frederic] Vasseur, of course, knows him well. But Formula 1 remains a sport that is very dependent on data.

"The stopwatch doesn't lie and at the moment it just doesn't deliver in terms of lap times. So they have to worry a little bit. But sometimes change is also good. Maybe the switch to Ferrari for Hamilton, putting on that red suit, works the same as Superman putting on his suit.

"But it will be an exciting time anyway."