Breaking: Hamilton ‘disappointment’ at Ferrari expressed as major iss…read more
Lewis Hamilton Branded a ‘Disappointment’ as Struggles at Ferrari Continue to Mount
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has come under fire for his underwhelming start to life at Ferrari, with a former F1 driver describing his performance as a “disappointment.” The British driver joined the iconic Maranello-based team in January with hopes of reviving their championship credentials. However, the transition has been anything but smooth, and Hamilton’s stint at Ferrari is already facing significant scrutiny just a few races into the season.
Currently sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings, Hamilton trails his teammate Charles Leclerc, who holds fifth place. Both drivers have been hampered by the SF-25’s lack of pace, but Hamilton’s individual performance has drawn sharper criticism. Ferrari, once a strong contender for the constructors’ title, now languishes in fourth in the team standings—a notable step back from last season when they narrowly missed out on second place by just 11 points.
Hamilton has only managed a single top-five finish so far this season and has been outqualified by Leclerc in five of the six main race qualifying sessions. His inability to consistently outperform his teammate has added to the growing concerns surrounding his integration into the Ferrari setup.
Former F1 driver Christian Danner didn’t mince words when speaking to Sport.de, labeling Hamilton’s performances as underwhelming. “Actually, he’s a disappointment, albeit an understandable one,” Danner said. “He likely believed he could come in, show Leclerc and Ferrari how it’s done, and be the hero that brings them back to the top. But the reality has been far more difficult and frustrating.”
In addition to on-track struggles, reports of internal friction are starting to emerge. Danner noted that Hamilton may be experiencing “communication problems” within the team. These issues became apparent during the Miami Grand Prix, where Hamilton expressed frustration over delayed team orders. When Ferrari was slow to instruct Leclerc to let him pass despite Hamilton being on faster tires, he sarcastically told his race engineer: “Have a tea break while you’re at it.”
Later in the race, Ferrari reversed the order again, with Leclerc finishing seventh and Hamilton eighth. Hamilton’s irritation didn’t stop there—when informed about the gap behind to Carlos Sainz, he quipped: “Do you want me to let him through as well?”
These remarks, though humorous on the surface, have sparked concerns about growing tension between Hamilton and the team. Former F1 figures, including Ralf Schumacher, have suggested that the sarcastic radio messages could be adding stress to the relationship between the driver and Ferrari’s engineering staff.
Hamilton himself acknowledged the tense atmosphere following the Miami race, revealing that he told Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur to “calm down” when approached about his comments. It’s becoming increasingly evident that Hamilton’s dream of chasing an eighth world title with Ferrari is facing early turbulence, with performance woes and internal discord threatening to derail what was expected to be a headline-making partnership.
As Ferrari continues to struggle and Hamilton’s frustrations mount, the road ahead for both parties looks challenging.
