Lewis Hamilton’s debut season at Ferrari has not gone as planned, drawing criticism from former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Schumacher accused the seven-time champion of “sitting by and doing nothing” in what has been a challenging year for Hamilton. Despite high expectations following a strong 2024 season for Ferrari, Hamilton remains without a win and podium finish in red, currently sitting sixth in the standings with 148 points. Even teammate Charles Leclerc, in fifth place, has had a down year by his standards despite securing seven podium finishes.
The team’s underperformance led to Ferrari chairman John Elkann making headlines with his comments after the São Paulo Grand Prix. Elkann publicly urged both drivers to “talk less” and focus on their performance, with many speculating that his remarks were directed at Hamilton. Schumacher echoed Elkann’s sentiments, suggesting that the statement was a warning to Hamilton about his lackluster performance.
Schumacher went on to criticize Hamilton for his perceived inactivity throughout the season, stating that Ferrari expected more from their star driver. Despite reports of Hamilton providing detailed feedback to the Ferrari engineers, Schumacher’s comments added further pressure to an already strained environment within the team.
Elkann’s remarks received backlash from the paddock, with former drivers like Jenson Button and Giancarlo Minardi questioning the chairman’s public call-out of the drivers. Jacques Villeneuve raised concerns about Ferrari’s history of suppressing drivers with strong personalities, cautioning against a repeat of that pattern.
Hamilton faced another disappointing weekend at Interlagos, with a double DNF for Ferrari as both he and Leclerc retired from the race. Following Elkann’s comments, Hamilton took to Instagram to express his determination to bounce back from the setback, reaffirming his commitment to the team and himself.
The double DNF in São Paulo dropped Ferrari from second to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 36 points and Red Bull by four with three races remaining. The upcoming race in Las Vegas presents a crucial opportunity for Hamilton to salvage some positivity from a challenging season. A podium finish, similar to his climb from P10 to the podium last season, would not erase the year’s struggles but would provide a much-needed highlight for Hamilton and Ferrari.
In conclusion, Hamilton’s tough season at Ferrari has been met with criticism and pressure from both within the team and outside observers. As the season nears its end, all eyes will be on Hamilton to see if he can turn things around and finish the year on a high note.
