F1NEWS: "I respect him as a sportsman, but in private he's not on my level": When Lewis Hamilton's

“I respect him as a sportsman, but in private he’s not on my level”: When Lewis Hamilton’s former friend publicly called him out

In the world of Formula 1, relationships between drivers are often complex, and not all friendships last. One such example is the strained relationship between Lewis Hamilton and former driver Adrian Sutil. Hamilton, now a Mercedes driver and one of the most successful F1 racers in history, once had a close bond with the German driver. However, their friendship deteriorated after a nightclub incident in 2011, following Hamilton’s victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Sutil, who was racing for Force India at the time, was involved in an altercation with Lotus executive Eric Lux. During the incident, Sutil assaulted Lux with a champagne glass, leading to serious legal consequences. He was charged with bodily harm and handed an 18-month suspended sentence along with a hefty fine of £167,000. Sutil had hoped that Hamilton would testify on his behalf as a witness in the case, given their prior friendship. However, Hamilton chose not to get involved, a decision that ultimately caused a rift between the two drivers.

Hamilton addressed the issue publicly, stating that while he respected Sutil as a competitor on the track, he no longer wanted to associate with him in private. In his comments, Hamilton said, “These kinds of people I don’t really respect. I respect him as a sportsman, but in private, he’s not on my level, and I don’t need to waste time with those people.” He went on to say that he was glad he realized the nature of their friendship early on. This marked the end of their camaraderie, and the two drivers have since remained distant.

For his part, Sutil expressed disappointment over Hamilton’s actions, particularly feeling let down by the fact that Hamilton changed his phone number and avoided further communication. Reflecting on the situation, Sutil said, “He always said he is my friend, but he wished to suddenly disappear. He changed his number. I saw him in the paddock and he always said, ‘Yeah, we can sit down and talk about it,’ but he never arrived.” Sutil acknowledged that their relationship had soured, but he stated that he had moved on and found more meaningful friendships elsewhere. Despite the falling out, Sutil maintained a level of respect for Hamilton’s abilities as a driver, but their personal connection was irreparably damaged.

This wasn’t the first time Hamilton had faced tension with a fellow driver. His relationship with former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso also experienced its fair share of drama. The two drivers had a notoriously difficult partnership during the 2007 season, where they clashed both on and off the track. Alonso, a two-time world champion, later remarked that he and Hamilton could “never be friends,” attributing their differences to their personalities and competitive nature.

Speaking in a documentary for DAZN, Alonso reflected on their time at McLaren, saying, “We were in the same team, the same garage, we often travelled together, we were at meetings together, and we started to notice that there was friction. We were young, immature, and we had a lot of clashes. I don’t think we will ever be friends in the future. I don’t think we have many things in common.” Despite their personal differences, Alonso acknowledged Hamilton’s skill on the track, and both drivers have continued to compete at the highest level well into their 40s.

In the high-pressure world of Formula 1, friendships can be fragile, and even the closest bonds can be tested by the demands of the sport and personal differences. For Hamilton, maintaining professional respect for his rivals remains paramount, even when personal relationships fall apart.