Critical' warning for Lewis Hamilton if Ferrari Struggles con...read

Critical’ warning for Lewis Hamilton if Ferrari woes continue

Lewis Hamilton is facing mounting pressure after a turbulent start to his debut season with Ferrari. Following a notably flat performance in the Spanish Grand Prix—where he finished P6 despite a penalty on Max Verstappen—critics and pundits are sounding the alarm on whether Hamilton can adapt to his new environment.

Former F1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Herbert sounded a foreboding tone, comparing Hamilton’s struggles to those experienced by Michael Schumacher during his comeback with Mercedes between 2010 and 2012. Herbert remarked Hamilton “seems stuck in a hole” and lamented that “the raw pace… just isn’t there anymore”

Italian outlets have been unflinchingly critical. Corriere della Sera labeled Hamilton a “dull star,” suggesting his arrival at Ferrari has “entered full crisis” territory. Others, including La Gazzetta dello Sport, pointed fingers at Ferrari’s adaptation issues and the challenges posed by integrating Hamilton into their cultural and technical framework

Hamilton didn’t hold back after Barcelona, stating plainly on team radio: “Something is wrong with this car,” and later bluntly telling media, “I’m sure they won’t [fix it]”. Reports also highlighted a tearful Hamilton during post-race interviews, followed by a private apology to Sky’s Rachel Brookes—highlighting the emotional weight he’s currently bearing.

Hamilton’s outlook for the year has been grim describing the season as “painful” with “no fix” in sight RacingNews365 analysts noted his adaptation troubles: he’s averaging a qualifying deficit of ~0.25 s behind Leclerc and has yet to outscore him in any Grand Prix

Despite heated moments—Hamilton questioning the engineer strategy in Miami and Monaco—he denied any fundamental rift with his race engineer, calling the situation “BS” in a Guardian interview. Meanwhile, team principal Fred Vasseur continues to defend him, though the root causes are being examined.

Technical Upgrades: Ferrari is reportedly working on wishbone suspension tweaks and aerodynamic improvements targeted for upcoming races
Psychological Reset: Hamilton will use the week ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix to regroup after a setback in Spain
Championship Reality Check: He currently sits P6 in the drivers’ standings, far behind teammate Leclerc and championship leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren.

Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari was meant to reignite his quest for an unprecedented eighth world title. But as Silver Arrows success fades into the rearview, his current campaign is marred by adaptation woes, performance inconsistencies, and emotional strain. Maranello remains confident, but both driver and team face a crucial challenge: can they reverse this worrying trajectory before more critical consequences follow?